Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.
Without Kagome
Shocked at the re-appearance and age of the hanyo, Souta clung to the doorframe for a long time. Eventually, however, curiosity took over. Quietly, so quietly, he moved into the room, one side-step at a time, his wide eyes never leaving the sleeping form on what had been Kagome's bed. Just out of arm-reach, he sank to his knees on the tatami mats, and continued to stare.
If it hadn't been for the ears, the sword, and the claws, Souta would have found it difficult to believe that the elderly man was Inuyasha. His treasured picture of Inuyasha showed nary a wrinkle: the face before him was a mask of wrinkles; skin sagging over a bony face. He looks older than grandpa, Souta thought, then snorted at himself. Well, of course—if mama was right about the well never having opened, then Inuyasha had lived over five hundred years to get back to them.
But, he'd never even imagined Inuyasha being old. Wasn't he part youkai? Weren't youkai supposed to be eternally young, or something?
Of course, he was part human, too. So the mixture meant that Inuyasha lived a lot longer than any human, but still got older.
Disappointing as it was to see his hero so old, Souta felt a frisson of excitement. If Inuyasha was going to stay with them, just imagine the stories he would have to tell! Five centuries of history, seen in person! Wow! Imagine getting to live so long, to see so much! And Kagome would've gotten to see it, too—
Except, she hadn't. Souta felt a cold chill as he realized the downside of Inuyasha's long life. He knew how much grandpa still missed grandma, fifteen years later. How he said once that dying didn't bother him anymore, because when he died, he'd be with Miwa again.
For Inuyasha, four hundred years. Or more.
Souta stared down at mat, trying to comprehend.
Author's Note: This is the longer version of the drabble was written for the LiveJournal community Issekiwa, for the prompt "Wrinkle." It was originally posted on March 30, 2011. It placed third.
This is a direct sequel to the previous chapter ('The Guest').