Chapter 12
Yusuke acted without thinking, his body moving with an urgency he'd often felt in the too many life or death situations he'd found himself in. Yusuke was never much for strategies, but even this was dumb. He had thrown himself between the demons and Kagome, an arm tucking her against his back with his other raised protectively in front of them.
It seems even Genkai had jumped at the ominous words; she was at his side in a fighting stance, her energy blazing in much the same fashion as Yusuke.
Just as Yusuke had accepted that there wasn't anyone who could challenge him after Toguro, these guys showed up at the worst time to prove him wrong.
"If you are only here to make threats get off my property!" Genkai snapped an inhuman growl to her voice.
Yusuke couldn't even speak; his body was trembling. Or was it Kagome?
He chanced a look over his shoulder only to wish he hadn't. Kagome had dug her fingers into his sleeve, her whole body was shaking violently, and her eyes were as wide as saucers. It was like this morning all over again. There was a violent fear that played out in her vacant expression.
"Kagome, snap out of it!" He whispered, his voice soft and almost pleading. He didn't want her going catatonic, doing that now would only make this situation worse.
Inuyasha's eyes narrowed, a growl echoing out from him; it sounded like a beast, angry and frightening. "Get your hands off her. We need to talk,"
Yusuke bristled. "How is scaring her talking!?" He snapped angrily.
The two males glared at one another. The silence was almost deafening.
Then she spoke, her voice soft and just as equally broken. "I'm going to die?"
Inuyasha nodded slowly. "When you were forced back, Kikyo was brought back in your place. Seems Naraku made a wish that made it possible for you to complete the jewel. It's also the reason it can't be wished away yet and why you're currently sick."
Yusuke stiffened, looking quickly to Kagome; she looked fine aside from a little pink in the cheeks. His eyes snapped back to meet the hanyou's. "Explain."
"It's easier if I just give you this," he was holding out a letter. "Kikyo explained everything in this. She was always better with words than I am,"
"No shit mutt-face," Kouga snapped, his fist slamming into the back of Inuyasha's head and sending the hanyou straight into the ground.
"Yeah!" Shippo agreed, leering down at him. "What happened to the plan?" The kitsune growled harshly, his eyes burning angrily.
Even Sesshomaru, with his emotionless exterior, stepped forward, slamming Inuyasha's head into the ground with his foot. The attack made a sickening crunch, the ground cracking as the hanyou gave a pathetic sound. "Yes, little brother, why can't you follow even the simplest of instructions?" Every other word had the demon slamming his foot into the hanyou head, once prone and twitching. Sesshomaru reached down and grabbed the letter before turning to Yusuke and Kagome. "Please excuse the half-bred; no matter how much I beat him, he still refuses to mind his manners after 500 years." He bristled. Eyes flashing heatedly.
Kagome shakingly took the letter, eyes wide and unsure, before turning to the letter. It was worn, having yellowed over time while also feeling fragile between her fingers. The words stood out in bold black ink, but they too showed wear.
Kagome,
I truly wish I didn't have to be writing this; even though centuries separate us, it seems destiny had one more twist in our shared fate. By now, Inuyasha has undoubtedly frightened you, but he is not wrong in his assumptions; you are going to die. I know not how only that it will happen following your return to your time.
On the day of the battle against Naraku, my soul had been dormant within your side. But then the spider had made a wish that had awakened my spirit long enough for me to hear his wish and the ominous words of the Shikon no Tama. He wished for me to be alive and there, not you, so he could be done with us both. The jewel whispered, saying it would grant his wish but not sacrifice its host.
When I was wished back into existence, my whole soul had been ripped away from you. You are no longer my reincarnation, and your destiny is greater than any of us could have ever known.
The jewel is the key. It will be what saves you. You need only to accept it, and all will be made clear.
Good luck, Kagome of the Shikon; the one of many souls.
~Kikyo
"The jewel is the key?" She asked slowly, brows knotted in thought before she angrily shook her head. "Can you be any more vague!" Kagome growled, eyes glaring at the letter she held in her trembling hands. "This doesn't explain anything! If the wish were for her to be there and not me, it makes sense that I was brought here. But me dying? Because of his wish? That doesn't make sense! The jewel said I have to die!" Her eyes snapped upward to Sesshomaru. "What did you see?"
The demon again moved his coat and laid his hands upon the hilt of the sword at his side. Golden eyes were practically glowing as they swept across Kagome's body before looking her in the eye. "There are glowing chains upon your soul but no guardians to strike down, Tensaiga is unable to break the chains of death." There was a subtle flaring of his nostrils. "I believe you have been poisoned," he leaned closer to her as if to emphasize his next softly spoken words. "The stench of miasma grows stronger upon your skin."
Kagome gasped, eyes wide as she stepped back. "There has to be something?" Her voice edged with urgency. "I've always been able to purify his miasma until…" she paused before angry eyes swelled with tears. "Until I had the jewel, I could purify it."
She turned away, eyes switching back and forth, her mind racing trying to find any way to save herself from the fate pushed upon her by the jewel.
Yusuke approached her slowly; his heart tightened painfully. His hand slowly grabbed hers; it was ice cold and trembling.
She turned to him quickly, sapphire eyes glittering with tears. "I don't want to die."
He pulled her tightly to his chest, where she simply collapsed, convulsing from the heart-wrenching sobs that rocked her body. "I just want to be me; why aren't I enough?" she rambled brokenly. "First, I was always compared to Kikyo, *sob* now I'm going to die if I don't offer myself up to the jewel‽" She shook her head, her voice muffled as she stuttered. "Why? *sob* I find you *sob* and all you do is try to help me! You see me as me *sob* and now… now.." Kagome's voice trailed off into uncontrollable sobs.
"We'll figure something out," Yusuke whispered. "We have to." He held her just a little tighter, nuzzling her head and doing his best to offer her the comfort she clearly needed.
~o.O~O.o~
Kagome giggled gleefully, kicking her feet so as to follow the momentum. There was another push from behind, sending her just that much higher. At the peak of the swing just before gravity would pull her back down, for a single second, Kagome felt weightless. Her eyes glittered as she looked to the sky; the sun was just starting to dip below the horizon, golden hues from the dying daylight painting a beautiful sunset. Looking back, she was greeted by the grinning face of her best friend.
"Higher Yusuke! Higher!" She cheered as she came back. Her response was a laugh and another hard push sending her upwards once more.
This continued until Mrs. Higurashi came waddling over, the older woman cradling her growing belly. The woman smiled gently. "You're such a sweet boy Yusuke, always making Kagome smile." She chuckled softly.
The boy grinned, nodding. "And one day, she'll be my wife! And she'll always smile!"
Mrs. Higurashi did her best to hide her laugh behind her hand, the woman finding the boy's devotion to her daughter adorable. "You plan to marry my daughter?"
The boy nodded. "Then I'll always be able to protect her! And we'll be together forever!"
As much as it made the older woman want to squeal at how adorable it was, she needed to get the children home so she could start dinner. "Well, I'm sorry to spoil the fun, but it's time to go, Kagome."
"Awe," Kagome whined but nodded. Yusuke stopped pushing, the swing slowly coming to a stop.
"Come, Yusuke, we'll walk you home." Mrs. Higurashi smiled.
Kagome cheered, jumping out of the swing and next to Yusuke, where she grabbed his hand. Blush spread across Yusuke's cheeks, but he smiled back, holding her hand just as tight.
The two children smiled as they led the way, Mrs. Higurashi smiling as she followed.
Looking overhead, the soon-to-be mother of two noticed the dark sky above, her mood dampened at what looked to be an approaching rainstorm. Worriedly she tried to remember if her husband had taken his umbrella. He said he'd be working late, so hopefully, the weather would clear up before he made his way home.
Arriving at the apartments, the door was opened by a young woman; she was thin with long brown hair and tired eyes. "Oh, hello, Hikari!" She smiled. "Thank you for walking Yusuke home."
"It was no problem at all, Atsuko!" Hikari smiled. "It's hard enough keeping these two separated." The two women giggled, their eyes falling to the two children currently hugging one another. "According to Yusuke, we'll be in-laws one day."
Atsuko's eyes widened before softening, a gentle smile as she looked at her son. Some days he looked so much like his father, and yet there was a gentleness he possessed that his father lacked. Her eyes grew sad. Hopefully, he could hold onto that and become a better man. "I look forward to it." She offered softly.
This was the day that would forever live in Kagome's memory as the day she lost her best friend and her papa.
wolfYLady: Sorry for the long wait, but life decided to be difficult. Hope y'all enjoyed it and the bittersweet little flashback. So not only was this the day Kagome's dad died (hinted at above) but last time she ever saw Yusuke. And that lead Yusuke to meet Keiko.
Please be kind and review!