Nocturne - Chapter Twenty-Two: Silence
Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)
o - o - o - o - o : Indicates scene or POV change
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
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They walked along the path leading towards town. The trek was mostly uneventful and woefully awkward. Kagome did not know how to react around this man; Inuyasha. She had been so close to him and now felt further than ever.
Every day since Sesshomaru left, Inuyasha was outside her door waiting for her. He helped her with chores, played with the baby, and kept her company. At this point, Kagome would not be surprised to learn that he slept outside the house to keep an eye on her.
Could it be any more evident that Sesshomaru had asked his brother to keep an eye on her? The daiyokai could not have known how incredibly uncomfortable the entire situation made her. Or, instead, he thought to find the most capable person to watch over her, and that just so happened to be Inuyasha, her estranged companion. The irony of it all had not been lost on her.
Her situation was quite scandalous and would have made for quite the gossip if anyone truly knew. Thankfully, her friends were discreet over her situation, and no one had thought twice to inquire why the pair rarely made appearances together. It was just so strange for Inuyasha to be acting so casually about it all.
"Oi, Kagome!"
She looked over at Inuyasha, who waved a hand in her face. "You were off in la-la land and almost walked into that tree."
Kagome looked to the tree ten feet ahead of her and gave the man a narrow-eyed look. "A tree? Really?" What was he getting at?
"I'm just looking out for you," he told her, shrugging.
"Yeah, thanks for saving me from the tree. How would I have survived?" she asked with sarcasm dripping from every word.
"Well, you seemed distracted or somethin," he retorted.
Kagome sighed. She was distracted by thinking about him being near to her when she was trying to heal from their recent split. Being thrown back into such close vicinity when all of their issues hadn't been fully worked out was nerve-wracking. Yet, it wasn't all his fault. "I guess I have a lot on my mind."
Inuyasha scoffed. "Yea. You and me both."
She stopped and stood to face him, the infant on her back, blissfully unaware of the tension from the situation, yet watching with observant eyes. "Look, this isn't easy for me. With you being so close all of the time. I-I don't even know what to think...or how to feel...or what to say half of the time."
He opened his mouth to say something, but she put up a hand. "I get it. He told you to watch over me or something, but I don't need you hovering over me all the time."
His silence was answer enough. There was something that the brothers had in common. "Just give me some space. You can visit from time to time to play with Setsuna, but that's it. Let's just let this go...Let me let you go."
His golden eyes softened, and he grimaced at her words. "Kagome...I…" He shook his head, trying to choose his words wisely. "I'm not good with words. I do care about ya, I just… I don't know...This shit isn't easy for me either. It fucks me up to feel...at ease knowing I don't have to worry about pissing you off or making you sad or any of that shit."
She didn't want to, but tears began to well up in her eyes. To hear that it was easier away from her was a blow she hadn't expected but should have. She'd said the same thing, and here she was getting emotional to hear the words delivered out loud. Kagome quickly turned away so Inuyasha couldn't see her tears, though she suspected he could still smell the saltiness before she was able to wipe the evidence away with a swipe from her sleeve. If he sensed it, he said nothing.
Inuyasha threw his hands behind his head and walked several steps away. "I'll give ya your space. But just to clear things up. He did ask, but I wouldn't do it if I didn't care. His threats be damned."
He launched himself into the air towards the village. She smiled, and she brushed up against hope. Sesshomaru had tasked his brother with watching over her. Whatever his reasons, he cared enough to ask. Kagome had no way of knowing whether it was out of guilt or because he'd be back. She hoped for the latter.
Setsuna began to whine on her back. Kagome reached behind to soothe the baby. "Hush now. Are you hungry little one?"
The area had gone a little quiet after Inuyasha left, with only the occasional bird call. The wind picked up, blowing from the west and pushing Kagome's unbound hair into her face. The baby whined and squirmed more like something was unsettling her. With the village only a mile away, Kagome quickened her pace.
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The outskirts of the town were devoid of activity—an unusual thing with it being mid-morning. Typically, villagers were busy running errands, doing chores, and carrying about with life. Something was amiss.
Kagome hurried to the center of the village where Sango and Miroku's house was located. The couple was usually in the loop with the happenings of the village.
As she neared the house, Kagome could hear the murmurings of many people. Crowds of villagers could be seen with sorrowful looks upon their faces and whispering amongst one another.
She politely pushed past the villagers who made way for her and her child until she spotted Rin. The young woman looked particularly distraught and was being comforted by several village elders. Kagome approached, and the elders fell away, giving her sorrowful looks. One elder woman shook her head and patted Rin on the shoulder gently before moving off to rejoin the crowds.
The air had a tense feeling, and it was plain to see that something had happened. Rin looked up and smiled when she noticed that Kagome had drawn near. Tear marks tracked down her cheeks, and she was red and blotchy from crying. The small smile was forced but warmed her features in a way befitting only Rin.
Kagome's heart dropped, "Rin, what's happened?"
"I-it's Lady Kaede. She-she passed…" Rin gulped. She bit her bottom lip to keep it from quivering.
Kagome's hand covered her mouth. She grabbed the young girl into a hug, trying to provide comfort. "Where's Sango or Miroku?" Kagome asked after a moment. It was unusual for the pair to be absent after such a devastating ordeal. She looked around to see if she had missed her friends.
"Lord Miroku is with Kaede now, seeing to it that her spirit passes unharmed." Rin pulled away gently to wipe the tears away from her eyes after more had escaped. "Lady Sango is-is just beyond with the children," she pointed towards Kaede's hut.
"How? When?" Kagome asked. She knew it was a difficult time, and Kaede had been older and ailing, but it seemed odd that she would pass away so suddenly.
Rin looked at the ground; her brow drew in consternation. "It was but an hour ago, quite unexpected. I had left to go fetch more water for tea," she began, "and when I returned a few moments later, she was-was just...she was just gone." Rin sobbed behind her hands.
Kagome pulled her in again, wrapping her arms around the young woman. Rin stood there, her arms hanging lifelessly to her side and her head buried in the crook of Kagome's neck, trying to take in racking breaths. The baby at Kagome's back also seemed to sense the woman's distress and reached a small hand to Rin's head, entangling her tiny hands around strands of Rin's hair.
Rin gave a choked laugh and reached up to pull her hair from the small child's vice-like grasp. "Little Setsuna wishes for Rin to be comforted as well," she sniffed.
"Sorry, Rin. She's been awfully grabby lately," Kagome apologized.
She shook her head, "No, it is quite alright. How can I be upset with such a beautiful little Sesshy-face?"
"I'm going to go take a look. Will you be okay here?" Kagome asked. Something did not feel quite right here, and she felt the need to look into the matter further. If anything, she would be able to pay her last respects to the old miko who had taught her so much.
"Yes, Rin shall be fine. I can…" she wiped her face again with a sleeve trying to compose herself, "I can keep an eye on the pretty baby for you?" she offered.
Kagome looked from the nearly despondent woman back to her child, who now wore a mildly toothy grin. Her bottom teeth had erupted a week ago, with her top teeth coming in shortly after. Kagome chewed at her bottom lip and figured that there would not be any harm, and it may be what Rin needed to work through the loss. "Sure," Kagome said.
She pulled the baby from the carrier and removed it from her back, handing the baby over to Rin's waiting arms. Setsuna made babbling noises and kicked her limbs out happily once Rin smiled at her with her bubbly grin. "Hello little Suna, Rin is happy to see your precious smile."
After handing Rin the carrier, Kagome thanked her and made her way towards Kaede's home. It was within her line of sight, and many villagers had assembled outside to show respect for the recently departed. A wake and funeral ceremony would be planned soon, but the villagers had such great respect for the old miko that they came now to offer assistance in any way they could.
Many people expressed their sorrow in Kaede's passing as Kagome stepped among them. They knew that Kagome was Kaede's successor and would soon look to her for guidance in the matters that Kaede had left behind. The mantle that the old miko had left was a great one to fill, and Kagome had been shirking those duties as of late for a good reason. Young Rin had taken up many of those duties in Kaede's stead, but she had not undergone the necessary training to be recognized as a miko.
Kagome took in a deep breath and entered the house. It was brighter than it had been in ages. Kaede was no longer there to complain of the light affecting her eyes. She found Miroku next to the older woman's body, whispering silent prayers. Incense burned on a table that had been decorated with lovely flowers and herbs from the garden outside, giving the small house an otherworldly feel.
Miroku looked up once she entered the house and gave a tight smile and nod. "Kagome. I fear we see each other again under less than auspicious circumstances."
"Rin said this was rather unexpected. I hadn't seen her myself in a few weeks." Kagome felt quite guilty. She'd been busy, or rather selfish, not visiting the ailing older woman. Rin had been her caretaker for the longest time, and Kagome had allowed herself to become disillusioned with her ever-growing miko duties and used that as a reason not to visit.
The monk grimaced. "Yes, but she was nearing her time."
Kagome nodded in understanding. She had outlived many, and living to the age she had was nearly unheard of in this time. "If it's okay, I'd like to sit with her for a moment?"
"Of course." He finished his task and stood. "I will send in an acolyte to begin the nōkanshi later," he explained. Miroku gave Kagome a brief hug and departed through the door, leaving her alone with Kaede.
She knelt next to the body and did her best not to be overcome with grief. The woman had done so much for her and asked so little. Kagome fixed stray hairs on the woman's head and adjusted her miko's garb so that it lay perfectly straight. Kaede's crippled hands were placed overtop one another on her chest, and Kagome was happy that the older woman was now free of pain. She deserved that, and Kagome was delighted that her soul was free. Free to be reborn if that is what Kami wished for the woman. 'I only hope that we meet again if that is the case,' she thought.
A young man stopped at the door and looked in. Kagome glanced over at him, realizing that this was the acolyte Miroku had mentioned. She looked down at Kaede's peaceful form one last time. "Thank you," she said aloud, hopefully for Kaede's spirit to hear.
Rising, something caught her eye. The small table that held the incense and arrangement of flowers also held something rather unusual. The colors of it almost allowed the item to blend in with the bouquets, but it stood out due to its strange markings. There, upon the table, sat a sizeable brightly-colored feather. The idea of a dark blue feather as large as the one before her was perplexing. The color was reminiscent of a peacock's blue, but the feather had dark horizontal bands. She reached to touch the item, but someone cleared their throat, bringing her back.
Kagome looked up to see Inuyasha instead. He'd shoved the acolyte to the side; the young man looked flushed with anger to have been so unceremoniously moved aside. "So, the old hag finally kicked it."
She wanted to reach and throttle him, but they had a tinge of sadness to them despite his words. "So it would seem," she responded.
Inuyasha walked up to examine the body, sniffing around. "Something's not right here."
A/N: Things are really tough for both IY and Kag. Their relationship didn't work out and they are kind of forced to be near one another. Obviously, they both care about each other, but pride has been hurt and there's still guilt and unresolved feelings. That can be taxing for anyone.
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