Chapter 10 – Second Chances

She was still.

She was silent.

She was…

"Kagome?" Inuyasha whispered. No reply. His sharp hanyou ears searched desperately. For anything. A heartbeat. A breath. But he couldn't hear anything. Nothing at all. His golden eyes swept up and down her still form. Her chest had to rise, her head had to turn, her neck and wrists had to pulse weakly. But they didn't. Her smell was the same… the Sakura blossoms were still in flower… but barely. He could, again, smell the heavy scent of winter.

The sweat hadn't dried on her body. Her skin… it was still warm. No, it was hot. The blood still hadn't faded from her cheeks.

But she was dead.

"No," Sango whispered. "What… what happened? I thought… it was just… the flu…"

"Pnuemonia… exhaustion… her wounds… blood loss… and she… despair…" Kagura said quietly, inhaling Kagome's scent.

"Don't say that! You make it sound like she's gone!" Inuyasha growled, fury in his voice. Absolute anger.

Sango fell to her knees. "Oh… oh God…" she murmured.

"What is it?! What happened?!" yelled Koga, as he pelted it into the room, Miroku at his heels. "The doctor's on his way; he'll be here any… what…?"

Miroku was a monk. He didn't need to ask. He could sense the absence. He knew what he should do; he should… offer his blessing, try and comfort… but he just… he couldn't.

"What the hell?" Koga whispered. "What the hell has happened to her?"

None of them could move.

…

Her scent was fading now. Kagura had left the room – she had to go, she had to hold her daughter. Just to be sure…

Kagome's face was beginning to take on a pallor… a pallor only matched by those dead.

There was silence.

Then, with a wail, Sango began to cry.

...

There was darkness. Darkness everywhere. She didn't know what she was doing in this strange place. There was a reason, she was sure of it. but she didn't know what the reason was.

"Where am I?" she asked. Not upset, not worried, not scared. Curious. A thought struck her. "Who am I?" she asked, once again, her tone reflecting that dull curiosity. She wasn't really interested, anyway.

She looked down at herself. At her body. Ah! So this was her, was it? Hmm. So… what was she doing here anyway? It was kinda boring just… what was she doing? Loitering? Moving? Waiting?

…

"I… I guess…. Someone should… ring her… her mum…" Miroku whispered.

"She's coming home soon anyway," said Sango, through sobs. "We can't… we can't just ring her up and say… say her daughter…"

"She died." Inuyasha stated. He couldn't believe it. She was actually… he had never been near an actual dead person before. He had been in a few fights but… and what was this… this hole in his chest? He felt empty. Like there was nothing. He wasn't crying… but he wasn't smiling… he couldn't feel anything at all. His senses had gone haywire too. He couldn't smell Miroku's musty, parchment scent… nor Sango's dewy smell… hell, not even Koga's overpowering wolf stench. All he could smell… was the Sakura blossoms. He could smell them dying, again, but this time it was slower, and bitter. Like… like someone had picked them and stuck them in a bowl of water in an effort to keep them alive. Sure, they would last, but it was more like they were on life support. They would die eventually, and it would just be harder when they did. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the still figure on the bed. She was beautiful. Even in death, her face was still… it was holding up a happiness, it gave a feeling that made people warm. Even when she should have been breaking down inside, she had let go, to make everyone else happy. He couldn't hear anything. It was like the time… the time he was with her in the water. Without her sweet scent, without the steady thumping of her heartbeat, in the greenish, disfiguring light of the water, he had reached out to hold her face in his hands, to brush her lips with his. And now… there was nothing. And even… with the sweet sickness of her smell, without the reassuring sounds of her body, without the warmth in her big brown eyes, he… he just wanted to hold her. He wanted to hold her, to hug her and kiss all her hurts and pain away. It was all his fault. If only… if only he'd found her sooner, if only he'd fought harder, if only he had watched for her at the school, made sure she was ok… oh God, if only, if only. If only wasn't any good to Kagome now. It was too late for regrets. Too late to look back. Too late to say goodbye.

…

Suikotsu opened the door. "I'm here! Is she in the same room as before?" he called out. Silence greeted his voice. He looked around, and frowned. "Where is everyone?"

Still frowning, he continued into the house. Moving cautiously, he began to descend the staircase. "Inutaisho? Sesshomaru? Izayoi? Kagura?" he called out.

He turned left, and began to move down the corridor. Inutaisho stepped out to stop him. "Ah, Suikotsu," he said. But his tone held no evidence of relief. No evidence of welcome. "Thank you for coming."

Suikotsu shook his head. "Sir, I'm sorry, but if her condition is as bad as your son Sesshomaru described to me over the phone, I don't have time for pleasantries. I need to get to the girl as soon as possible, or…"

"Yes, I understand, thank you doctor. But… I'm sorry to inform you that your service is no longer required."

Suikotsu stopped. He stared at the man. "But… oh my God… I'm… I'm so sorry."

Inutaisho gave him a sad smile. "Thank you, doctor, but I think it would be best if you leave now."

Suikotsu nodded. Of course. "I'm truly sorry. If there's anything I could do…"

"Thank you," Inutaisho placed a friendly hand on the man's shoulder. "I appreciate your efforts."

Suikotsu nodded, then hesitated. "Sir, I am truly sorry for bringing this up, but… she needs to be examined. I need to… declare her death. It is best to get it over with. Sooner rather than later."

Inutaisho did not look surprised. "I understand that, doctor, of course. May I suggest we go to the kitchens, maybe have a drink? Leave her alone with her friends… just for now."

"How is Inuyasha taking it?"

"Not well, I don't think. He… I don't know why, but he has a bond with her, I think… I don't fully understand, but… let us leave it for now. I think we could both do with a break."

…

"Kagura? Are you ok?" Sesshomaru asked her, concern in his voice.

She looked up from where she had been cradling her daughter. Tear tracks were running down her face.

She bit her lip and shook her head. "No. no, I'm not. I…"

He moved forward and took her into his arms, resting his chin atop her head. "Please talk to me, Kagura."

"It's not… I mean, I know that I didn't even know her, but… she was… she was here, and then she was… she was gone! Sesshomaru, how did it happen?! In our house… and she was… she's only sixteen! She's a year younger than Inuyasha, ten years older than Rin! And I was… I was holding her, I had my hand on her forehead, and then she… she stopped! She just… she wasn't there anymore!"

"Sssh, my love, sssh. It's ok. It's gonna be ok," he said, rocking her gently. She let go, and sobbed into his chest.

Against her body, her little girl stirred. "Mommy?" she whispered, her voice heavy with sleep. "Mommy, why are you crying?" sleepy eyes blinked up at her.

"It's alright, sweetie," Kagura murmured. "Go back to sleep."

Rin nodded, before resting her head again and closing her eyes.

Kagura cradled her little girl in her arms, and fresh tears welled up in her eyes. How could anything so precious, so beautiful, ever end?

…

There was a light. Finally, a direction in which she could head! She tried to move, but found her limbs were stiff. She could barely move! Angrily, she struggled against her bonds, but found that they were immovable. She cursed loudly.

"You never used to use language like that," came a voice. A male voice.

She turned. He smiled sadly. "But that was three years ago now."

She knew him, she knew she did. "Da… daddy?" she whispered. "You… what's going on? Why am I here?"

He smiled at her sadly. "Oh, my little Kagome. I've missed you so much."

Kagome? Yes, that… that was her name. It was so familiar.

She started, as all her memories came rushing back to her. "You're… you're dead!" she gasped.

He nodded.

"But… but then why… oh God… Naraku killed me… oh God…" she stared at the man in front of her. "Daddy, what's going to happen?" she asked, terrified. She was… she was… she was dead. Dead.

He smiled at her again. "To you, Kagome? Nothing. You're going back."

She paused, and the full impact of his words hit her. "I'm… I'm going back? But… but I'm dead. I died."

"Yes. You did. But you're not finished yet, my little lady. You still have so much to do. Your death came, yes, but it was early. Your life hadn't ended yet. There's a second chance, just waiting for you."

"But… but…" Kagome frowned. Something was wrong. "But doesn't that mean I have to leave you?"

"Yes." He said it simply, without regret.

"Do you want me to go?"

He laughed. "Kagome, my darling baby girl, I would have given anything to see your beautiful face. But not if the price is your life. I want you to go back."

"I'll miss you, daddy."

"I know, my little one. I'll miss you too." He drew closer to her, and softly brushed her hair. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you and Souta. And your mum."

She shrugged. "S'ok. We all miss you, but none of us actually believe that you're gone, so it's not so bad. Did you know, that for a year after you left, Souta used to talk to you every night?"

Her father smiled, but this time there was a happier element to it. "I know, I used to listen. I was so proud of his 95% in his science exam!" he laughed.

Kagome smiled. "We all were. The little squirt's over-shining me!"

Her father sighed. "Goodbye, my little lady."

He placed his lips to her forehead…

And then there was a bright light.

…

Inuyasha frowned. Something… something was changing… the scent… it was… like… Spring again. He moved to Kagome, and felt her hand. What the…?

"AAAHHH!" Kagome screeched, sitting straight up.

"Kagome?!"

"Kagome?!"

"Kagome?!"

"KAGOME!!!!"

"What?! What happened?!" Inutaisho yelled, skidding into the room. His eyes bulged as the scene unfolded before him.

Sango launched herself onto her friend, tackling her onto the bed. "Don't you DARE do that to me again! Don't you DARE!"

Koga laughed, ruffling Kagome's hair. "You had me scared there for a minute, little sister!"

"Lady Kagome," Miroku smiled. "It's good to have you back."

"I'm… I'm back…" Kagome muttered in confusion, looking down at herself, at her bosy. "I'm back? What the… OW!!" a streak of pink light flared out from her palms, to settle on the bed, the sheets smoldering. She shook her burned palms, willing the sting to go away. "Dammit!"

Inuyasha just stared.

"What's going on? Is it…" Suikotsu barged into the room, panting. It wasn't as easy for him as it was for the dog demon to run from the kitchens to the bedroom where Kagome was kept. He did a double take when he saw the girl on the bed, looking around in confusion.

"What's the matter, doc?" Sango laughed, hugging Kagome. "Don't you believe in miracles?"

"But… but…" Suikotsu mumbled, completely lost.

Kagome, however, had no eyes for the drama unfolding around her. Her gaze was locked firmly with the eyes of another.

Inuyasha.

"I… I thought…" he mumbled. "I thought you'd left me…"

Kagome shook her head. "I could never leave you. Not for long."

Without hesitation, without thought, without any conscious reasoning, he crossed to the bed, and shoved Koga, Sango and Miroku out of the way. Without breaking her hold on his eyes, he leant down…

And kissed her.

She stiffened in surprise. Then her arms encircled his shoulders, pulling him down to her, deepening the contact, turning it from chaste to passionate. She closed, her eyes, and tilted her head, never once breaking her choke-hold around his neck. She threw as much as she could into the kiss… a silent oath.

They broke apart for air.

Inuyasha stroked her face, oblivious to the looks they were receiving from everyone else in the room. "Promise me you'll never leave me like that again."

"I… I promise."

And with that, he bent down once more and brushed his lips against hers.

I love her.

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Heya,

I just wanted to say I'm really really sorry if this brings back any bad memories for anyone. I truly am.

I hope you enjoyed the latest installment; trust me, it's been KILLING me to put off adding it!

myInuYasha15 - Thanks! Hopefully this is as good as you hoped...
completeandtotalrandomness - Eek!! Poor doggy! I'll update, just don't squash the doggy! lol XD
Mistyfire - Suspensish enough? Lol, enjoy!
kouga's older woman - I know! It's so ADORABLE... thanks!!
mitachan - I'll get right onto that XD
brinaalee - Thanks for your advice in the first place, owe you one for that! And thank you so so much! I hope this next bit is ok... particularly the Inuyasha paragraph, as I've dubbed it... Thanks for your cotinued support and contributions!
Sassybratt - Yeah, Kagura's OOC in this part too... I don't know why, it just kinda worked for me... ah well! Thanks! I hope it cleared up some of her past thingies for you and stuff? And I hope this measures up to what you were hoping for!! I really appreciate all the comments etc!
bumblezee - Be as selfish as you want! Partcularly when it comes to stories (and chocolate)! Ooh, I hope you like this part! Thanks for the tip, I'll keep that in mind!

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. It gives me a warm glowy feeling... I can't wait to write more :D

Questions, comments, critiscisms, suggestions etc, but please no flaming!

Libra Sorceress xx