Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Inuyasha, nor the characters. I do own the poem, however.
Echoes
She watched him play the koto in awe. She didn't even know they had a koto at the shrine; and most certainly wasn't aware he could play. Not for the first time she pondered how much she did not know about Inuyasha. Tears streamed down his face but he seemed at peace. He hadn't sensed her, as far as she could tell (or, if he had, he was ignoring her).
It took her a while to realise that what she thought was mumbling were actually words to the song. If she strained her ears she could only just hear him above the melody:
"The crane that bows its neck
At the temple of Ise,
I prayed to it one day
That it may fly to you.
:o:
The crane spread out its wings
And cried out to the delta
I can't, I can't, I can't
For she is not for you.
:o:
And so I wept and wept,
At the temple of Ise
Until my sleeves were all
But overflowing red.
:o:
'Cry not!' called out the crane
For none can battle fortune
And we all bow our necks
Before the sword of fate.
:o:
My heart broke like the ice
That sunshine thaws, on rivers,
My head bent down so I
Could see the humble truth:
:o:
The woman who I loved
Was not the one I'd chosen;
And I had chosen she,
The one who loved me not.
:o:
The sun rose on my head
The sky, with carmine tainting,
The temple breathed a long,
Resounding sigh of life;
:o:
But inside I, oh, I,
Whose heart was slowly wilting,
Wandered alone and lost
Through the cranes at dawn.
:o:
The wind gouged at my eyes
My heart continued mourning
And I, and I, and I
Saw neither dawn nor light
:o:
'Cry not!' called out the crane
But I could not obey him;
As far as eyes could see
My world was draped in white.
:o:
'She who is meant for you,
She comes to you.' He warned me.
I could not see a way
In which that could be true.
:o:
'She who is meant for you
Is more than who you're mourning;
She's love and light and warmth
And all, she is for you.
:o:
She knows your heart and soul
Though no words have been spoken
She loves with a pure heart
Everything you are.
:o:
But on and on I wept
Upon the shores of Ise
While cranes encircled me
And chanted of my bride.
:o:
I could not raise my head
My heart was all in tatters
The woman I had loved
Would never be my wife.
:o:
But then the breeze caressed
The gentle shores of Ise
And from the East I felt
A presence start to rise.
:o:
The cranes all bowed their head
In humble recognition
Before the goddess of
The land of the Sunrise.
:o:
'Why weep you?' spoke she softly.
No haughtiness, no airs
Naught but a single blossom
To grace her fair head.
:o:
'I weep for selfish reasons'
I said, all the while bowing,
'I weep for she whom I love but
Whom I may never wed.
:o:
And lo! Her eyes then misted
With emotions a thousand
And every single one
Reflected upon me.
:o:
'Weep not for she is happy
And wishes back upon you
The happiness which you
Grant'd her so honestly.
:o:
She knows your love for her
Alas, she loves another,
But prays for blessings on you
As you, for her, hath done.
:o:
Her hands reach out to me
Her tears call to my tears
Her soul ties on to mine,
And then I finally see:
:o:
As the cranes bow their heads
At the temple of Ise
I found the one I love,
She who is meant for me.
:o:
We speak naught after that
For she knows all my failings
I try in vain to hide
My shortcomings and yet,
:o:
She smiles with her eyes
Her sleeves touching my own ones
And whispers how she loves me
All the more for them.
She could not help but wonder if he knew what he was singing, and how it resonated with his own life. He continued to play and she watched on until, at long last exhausted, his eyes closed and his fingers stilled. She wiped her tears. She had had no idea! She never would have imagined just how sensitive Inuyasha could be. Tears continued to pour from his closed eyes and she brushed them away gently. She could not carry him to the house, but she would not leave him. Kneeling next to him, she pulled him to herself, resting his head on her shoulder. Tears kept making their way down his face. She kissed the crown of his head and brushed the length of his hair. The feeling of helplessness continued to bloom in her.
How can I help you, Inuyasha? How can I heal you?
But she knew – keeping her promise to stay by his side, if nothing more. She would stand by him, stay strong for him, and that would have to do for now.
"You're not alone, Inuyasha. I made a promise to you." She murmured.
She did not notice the small smile that made its way onto his sleeping face.
Author's Note:Yay! I finally managed to put up this chapter! I would have put it all as chapter 10 but it would have been way too long. Yes, the poem is mine - it's a song actually - and I apologise about the formatting but there is nothing I could do. Oh how I tried. :s The part about sleeves flowing red is a metaphor often encountered in haiku, particularly of the Heian Era, which refers to crying so much one that it soaks their sleeves (which considering how voluminous kimono sleeves are, is quite a feat) and become tears of blood. (I hope I remembered that correctly.) I do apologise for the length of the poem but it simply would not be cut down. Inuyasha needed to sing!!! Sing, I tell you!!!! O.o Yes...anyway, I hope this wasn't a too hard to read chapter and that you did enjoy it. Fluff will be coming soon...er...if I remember right. :p
Toodles!