Death Be Not Proud

by landofthekwt

Inuyasha and Shiori cling to each other after their spouses die "The Long Goodbye" "Carry On My Wayward Son" and a "Life Well Lived ""The Bravest Man in the World" and "Educating Musushio" are prologues to Death Be Not Proud and an ending to Ten Years After Don't own it or make make money from it

12. Same Time Next Year

Title Same Time Next Year

Author landofthekwt

Rating K

Prompt I-12 (ib4y)

Pairing Inuyasha/Shiori

Part of Death Be Not Prund.

Word Count 350

Warning mention of character death

Summary Kohaku's memorial service is held on the anniversary of his death

The chill in the mountain reflected the mood in the village. Not everyone wanted to hold the memorial service. Even more did not want the service to be open to outsiders. Kohaku was the father of the taijiya. It was only fitting that the service should be open only to those who followed the taijiya way.

Shiori had stood in the council and argued against this position. Kohaku was a brother to Sango. His nieces and nephews who lived in the Sunset Village should be permitted to attend. They were family just like the children and grandchildren.

The need for secrecy weighed against this position. The more people who knew the location of the taijiya village, the more likely that the demons would come in force as they had in Naraku's time.

In the end it was decided that they should restrict the service to the children of Shiori and Kohaku. Shiori said nothing of her invitation to Inuyasha. Only Mutusuhito knew. He had held his tongue in check during the discussion.

The family had already ruled against their own mother. How would they feel if an outsider appeared at the service? He knew how he felt when she had gone with Inuyasha to return her mother's ashes.

He was no more welcoming than he had been a year ago, but he understood her position. In Kohaku they had lost a father and grandfather. When Kohaku died she had lost a lifelong companion.

Still, he hoped against hope that Inuyasha would not come. Better to let things go back to normal or as normal as they could get without Kohaku.

The service was disturbed by noise at the front gate. The cursing could be heard all over the village. It could only be Inuyasha.

Shiori brightened as Inuyasha bounded the wall just a step ahead of his pursuers. Holding out her arms, he circled in his embrace. Suddenly, she felt much warmer.

"I was afraid you weren't coming" She murmured.

"Keh, I'm here aren't I" He replied. Indeed he was and for the first time that day she smiled.