Chapter 20 – Goodbye
No.
No.
No no no no no.
Dear God, please, no.
He was dead. Lying on his bed, his eyes closed, and his body cold.
Her grandfather was dead.
Heart attack, the paramedic had said. Nothing could be done.
They were wrong.
It hadn't been a heart attack. She had seen it. In her dreams, she had watched, silently, as that woman slowly sucked the life from him.
She hadn't been able to do anything.
The second she woke up, she ran to his room.
But by then, it was too late.
He was dead.
Another one. Dead. Another loved one. Gone. Her fault. All her fault.
Kikyo had killed him. A message.
The message said that they were through with playing games. Her time was up. They were closing in for the kill. And they would. They would take everyone and everything dear to her and destroy it. Again.
Mama. Souta. Koga. Ayame. Sango. Miroku. Inuyasha…
They would kill them all. Kill them all. Just to send a message to her. Just to make her fear them. They didn't need a message. She lived her life in terror.
She had to save them.
There must be something.
She couldn't let them all die.
Not for her.
…
"How's she doing?" Sango asked in a subdued tone, as Inuyasha came from Kagome's room.
"Not good," he said blankly. "I don't think she even knew I was there. Her eyes were open but... she couldn't see me. " He hung his head. This was all his fault. He should have been watching her, protecting her... But now... her Jii-chan was dead. Gone. Her family members were being killed off... one by one...
"Has she eaten anything yet?" Miroku asked, concern lacing his tone, and snapping Inuyasha out of his reverie. "Drank anything?"
"I don't think she would even breathe if someone didn't remind her," Inuyasha replied.
"Goddammit!" Koga swore, smashing his fist into the wall.
Ayame said nothing. She just watched, silently, with tears trickling down her face.
Two days ago Kagome had been training her powers with Kaede, and Kaede had taught her how to protect her mind, even in sleep.
The first night, she slept well. The second sleep in the past few months were she was not afraid.
And Kikyo had known. She had known something was different. She felt that Kagome was blocking her mind.
She hadn't decided to waste the energy to break through Kagome's defences for the sake of a few bad dreams. She had decided to torture Kagome in a much more practical way.
It had worked.
…
She would gladly give them her curse now. Anything, anything at all, to be rid of them.
She wasn't sure if the 'them' was her powers, or Kikyo and Naraku.
She had killed two people now. First her father. Now her grandfather.
And she had injured Kanna.
They would be buried together, in the family plot. Something that would never happen to her. No, they were going to kill her, and they were going to make sure that nothing was left of her. Nothing to mark the life of Kagome Higurashi. The only question was how long she had left.
She wondered idly if they would erase everyone's memories of her. Probably not. They would want the tale told. But it would be so much easier if people didn't go after them after they killed her. Maybe that was what they wanted? Maybe they wanted someone to chase them?
She hoped they wouldn't, but she was probably wrong. Miroku and Sango were fiercely loyal. Koga and Ayame were just hotheads. And Inuyasha…
She couldn't let them hurt him. She couldn't.
…
"She blames herself," said Ayame quietly. "Just like her father. She blamed herself then, too."
"But her grandfather died of a heart attack," said Miroku, confused.
Inuyasha growled. "Died of a heart attack my arse. I could smell the fucking scent of a miko all over the body!"
"A miko?" Sango said, as her face drained of colour. "Kikyo… Kikyo did this?!"
"Of course she fucking did!" Inuyasha growled at her.
No one said anything.
Inuyasha's eyes flashed red as he began to shake. His fangs extended, and purple markings began to appear on his face and wrists.
"Shit!" yelled Koga. "Sango, Miroku, get outta here! Call Sesshomaru!"
"What…" Miroku stared, not comprehending.
"He's turning full demon! Go!"
Sango and Miroku fled, as Ayame and Koga herded Inuyasha outside.
…
Sesshomaru was sat at his desk when his phone began to ring. He had hidden in the study to get away from a hormonal Kagura. She was one truly scary wind sorceress. His father and step-mother had taken Rin out for the day. He was hoping for a bit of peace and quiet…
Until he saw it was Miroku ringing.
"What do you want, monk?" he drawled lazily, as he brought the phone up to his ear.
Thirty seconds later, the study was empty, the phone thrown to the floor and the sound of wheels in the distance.
…
Inuyasha was terrifying. His body shook with an unholy rage, and Koga and Ayame were desperately trying to get him to calm down, or, at least use up some of his energy.
"Inuyasha," Ayame yelled desperately, dodging his attack. "Stop!"
Inuyasha snarled as Koga kicked his shoulder. "You're messing up the Higurashi's garden!"
He let out a howl as Ayame nailed him with an emerald attack, slashing his arm. "Kagome needs you!"
He stopped.
"Please stop, Inuyasha," came a voice from behind him. "Just stop it now."
She stood behind him. She was so pale, and she looked shrunken as she clasped her dressing gown around her. She looked like she could be broken by a feather.
He stopped.
Sesshomaru came running into the garden, a scabbard in his hand, but stopped when he saw his younger brother.
"Here," he thrust it towards Kagome. "Take it to him. He won't want to see me now."
"What is it?" she asked, in a small voice.
"The Tetsuaiga. A sword made from our father's fang, and the only thing to keep Inuyasha's demon blood in check. Take it to him."
She grasped the rusty katana blade in her hand and began to walk towards him, holding it out in front of her.
"Take it," she whispered to him. "Take it, Inuyasha,"
He took it.
His eyes turned from their vibrant scarlet to his liquid gold. He stopped shaking. The markings faded.
"Kagome," he gasped. "Kagome, I'm so sorry."
She smiled at him.
"Don't worry."
And then she cried.
Sesshomaru stood, and watched, as she sunk to her knees in the small garden, and his half-brother fell with her, his arms locked around her shoulders, as she sobbed into his chest. He held her, as her body wracked with tears of anguish. She struggled to be free, but he held on, and eventually her struggles weakened.
Inuyasha looked up at his half brother, and all Sesshomaru saw in his eyes was love and pain. He was hurting.
And Sesshomaru knew that they were meant to be together.
Just like that.
…
He left her house unwillingly, at his brother's command. He hadn't wanted to go, but Sesshomaru had held the potential for another eruption over his head, and he had had no choice. What if he hurt Kagome next time?
That was just before lunch.
Miroku and Sango had left not long after Inuyasha, feeling helpless in the face of their friend's pain, and Ayame had managed to drag Koga away.
She knew what she had to do. She couldn't let any of them get hurt again. She couldn't.
She shouldered her pack, and threw it into the boot of her grandfather's old car. She would have it now. Her mother had taught her how to drive, and, though she wasn't legal yet, she didn't care. Jii-chan wouldn't mind her taking his car, she told herself. He would have wanted her to have it. Especially for the purpose she was using it for.
She left a letter on her pillow. One for each. Mama. Souta. Miroku. Sango. Koga. Ayame.
She couldn't bring herself to leave a goodbye for Inuyasha. It hurt too much. It was something she had to do in person.
Mama and Souta wouldn't notice she was gone. Not yet. They were hurting; they didn't notice as she walked out the front door. Hopefully they wouldn't. Not until it was too late.
Kagome turned the key, took one look at the house which had so nearly been her home, and drove off.
...
Inuyasha stared at the wall. He felt...
Empty.
He was worried about Kagome, of course he was. But he couldn't... he had just gone past it all now. He was numb.
...
There was a harried knock at the door.
Sesshomaru ignored it. If he pretended it didn't exist, maybe it would go away.
He continued with his principal until someone called out to him. "Sesshomaru, please I know you're in there. Open the door. It's raining."
So much for his peace and quiet.
He opened the door. Kagome, dripping wet, was standing at the door.
"Young miko," he observed cooly. "You're very wet. And how did you know it was me?"
"I know," she said neutrally. "Your aura's colder than your brother's or father's."
Sesshomaru mulled that over. He liked the sound of that.
"Is your brother in?" Kagome asked him, shaking her wet hair.
Sesshomaru looked her over, before nodding gravely. "My brother is upstairs."
She nodded curtly and began to ascend the staircase.
"Miko," he called after her. She turned to look at him. Sesshomaru observed her calmly. "Kagome, I know your mind is made up. But it will kill Inuyasha. He loves you. It will truly break his heart, if you continue on this course. Think on that, before you continue. I know you believe it is for the best, but trust me when I say, you're wrong."
"How would you know?" she asked, unable to stop herself.
He answered with a ghost of a smile. "I've been around a long time."
He swept from the hall, feeling the confused eyes of the girl following him. Once he was out of sight, he shook his head in pity. For all her powers, she was still a child. Frightened and alone.
...
Someone knocked at his door, rousing him from his thoughts.
He rose to open it, and was surprised by the person standing there.
"Kagome," he said gently. "How are you?"
"Inuyasha," she said, refusing to meet his gaze. "Inuyasha... I... I came..."
Her eyes met his.
That was her mistake.
She threw her arms around his neck, and glued her lips to his. His arms encircled her waist, running down her curves. Her fingers tangled in his gorgeous silver locks, and her lips moved against his in a timeless, classic, dance. She threw everything she had into that kiss, and, for a moment, forgot. Inuyasha responded eagerly, before bending to grasp her behind the knees, and lift her into a bridal carry. Still not breaking contact, her carried her over to the bed, and set her upon the silk covers, climbing so he was on top of her, still holding her lips between his.
He broke the contact suddenly, and looked at her, suddenly afraid. "Kagome, are you sure you want this?" he whispered to her.
She brought her down to his shoulders. "Please," she murmured. "Just for one night. Help me to forget. Take it all away."
She raised her head to meet his lips again, and this time he responded, hesitantly at first, then with more feeling, until he felt that the only things in this world were him, Kagome and their love.
He broke the contact once more, and planted butterfly kisses down her neck.
His eyes flashed red.
He sank his fangs into the soft skin between neck and shoulder.
She was his.
...
The morning light was what woke him in the next day.
He felt... good. Happy. Content.
Rolling over, a smile on his lips, he was surprised to see that Kagome was missing.
A cold dread settled in his heart.
No.
There, on the pillow upon which she had lain, was a piece of paper, folded, his name written in Kagome's neat print.
Fingers trembling, he unfolded the paper.
I love you.
I'm sorry. Please forgive me.
Forever yours,
Kagome.
He howled, as unbearable agony tore through his heart. She had left him. The one he loved, his mate, had left him.
She was gone.
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I actually wrote this the same day as Chapter 19, but I held off for a bit. I hope you enjoyed it!
cherrichan13 - I guess it was kinda just an instinct thing. It just seemed right... her feelings are very red, angry, and purple seemed a good mix between that and the icy blue fear for Kikyo.
BlackMagicWhiteMagic - Yeah, that's right! Dunno what I put that up for... Thanks, lol! I love mysteries! Any good ones? Hope this didn't disappoint!
kouga's older woman - Lol!
tazzels - Updated! Mwahaha!
Shichinintai's girl - :D (feels warm and fuzzy) Hope you enjoyed this!
reader238 - Updated, please enjoy!
mkblackrose - Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I know, I like her a bit... stronger?... dunno... Anyways, please enjoy!
Ice of the Kitsune's Fire/Mistyfire - The flower is sort of a message from her dad, because she leaves them at his grave. He responded in kind sorta thing. Please enjoy!
King Stephen IV - Thanks! Yeah, she had to be in there somewhere :P. Dum dum dum... lol enjoy!
leshamarieinuyasha - Thanks, and enjoy!
dangitsesshomaru - Lol, yeah! Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Sassybratt - Thanks! The wilting flower thing was kinda like a warning, like 'then end is coming...' kinda thing. Dum dum dum...!! Thanks for all your support!
brinaalee - Lol, I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks!