Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.
The Listener Behind the Well
Half asleep, Inuyasha started as the old boards shivered with a rush of power and shocked voices took his senses by surprise. He winced as his old body protested the abrupt movement. Closing his eyes, he sought to calm himself. Slow and steady was his pace in these latter days: the only pace he could manage, like it or not.
Then, he heard the voice crying out in relief, and he forgot pain in sheer shock at hearing it. Her voice-gone for centuries. Yellowing claws dug into the wood as a different pain shook him, as he mouthed a single word he dared not say aloud.
Kagome!
The aged hanyo listened to his once-beloved as she cried out her reaction to the terror and taunting of the Shikon no Tama. Slowly, unknowingly, his claws lost their grip and he slid to a crumpled heap at the the back of the well-house, as his world narrowed to only what his ears could hear.
The family had returned to the house before he come back to himself. Wiping his own wet face dry with the backs of his bony hands, Inuyasha heaved a sigh, as pain faded to its familiar ache. Carefully, he pulled himself to his feet. Time to leave. He must memorize the date, to know when it would be safe to come back to carry out his last promise.
He looked up, towards the unseen house.
Goodbye, Kagome. Take the next years slow. Enjoy them.
I waited.
I'll wait.
Author's Note: This obviously takes place roughly three days after chapter one. It was written for the prompt "Slow and Steady" on the LiveJournal community "Inuyasha Fanfiction Contest." It was originally posted February 15, 2011, and took third.