"I want to stay with you, Inuyasha."
Long ago, Kagome had made this promise, deciding to stay by the half-demon's side despite knowing he vowed his love to a past unobtained. The bond the half-demon and the bygone priestess held was sacrificial and unconditional. The strength of their love transcended life and death. He had sworn to follow the love of his life into the deepest depths of hell. Even as this decision shattered her tender heart, Kagome could not deny Inuyasha his choice. Regardless of her own hurt, she stayed by his side, dreading the day he would fulfill his vow.
The day came upon when Kikyo's worldly journey ended. That day the time stopped, the Earth ceasing its rotation. His world collapsed, and Kagome could still remember the lump in her throat as she witnessed Inuyasha holding Kikyo's frail body against the pale twilight. He stayed still for hours, holding her gently to his chest, caressing her hair softly. In her final moments, Kikyo reached for his tear-streaked face and smiled. Inuyasha bent down and pressed a kiss filled with love, pain, and regret to her lips. Then she was gone, enveloped in a bright light. Laid to eternal rest.
Kikyo's passing profoundly affected Inuyasha. He fell into depression and isolation, his existence given meaning only by his vendetta against Naraku.
Yet even in his darkest hours, a glimmer of hope emerged. His burden lifted, Inuyasha was finally free to love Kagome. He was released from his duty to Kikyo and able to be with Kagome.
That is, if only faith hadn't decided differently.
After Naraku's defeat, Inuyasha's mission was to free the world from the darkness of the Shikon no Tama. In his final moments, Naraku managed to perform one last malevolent act. He trapped Kagome inside the cursed jewel before leaving the world behind.
The roar that echoed through the jewel's core was heard throughout the netherworld. Inuyasha managed to banish the darkness, but at a great cost. His Tessaiga was shattered, and he was so gravely injured that his half-human body could not heal itself. His humanity suffered the most significant loss. Moments before he gathered all his remaining strength to destroy the jewel with his demonic power, Inuyasha's demon side emerged. The fact that it had probably saved him from the gates of the afterlife. His true demon strength allowed him to cling to life long enough for Kagome to help him return to the mortal realm.
And thus, this story begins.
Inuyasha had been unconscious for days, perhaps even a week. Kagome dutifully remained by his side. The young priestess's first instinct on the battlefield, upon discovering Inuyasha's maimed body, was to attempt healing his wounds with her powers. Yet where her touch should have healed him, it only caused more harm. Kaede later hypothesized that this might have been because Kagome's powers were pure reiki, and Inuyasha had succumbed to his demonic side. His darkness could not accept her light, leaving her unable to heal him.
Kaede did everything within her power to help him, as did the rest of Inuyasha's friends. Miroku prayed for his recovery, while Sango traveled across Japan searching for anything that could aid in his healing. Despite their efforts, Inuyasha showed no signs of improvement. His wounds had scarcely healed over several days, and Kagome found solace only in his shallow breathing. As long as he continued to breathe, she refused to consider the worst. Yet, she feared that if Inuyasha did not wake up soon, his body wouldn't survive much longer without nourishment in its current condition. The only things keeping him going were his demon strength and the little bit of water Kagome managed to coax past his lips now and then.
Once again, Kaede discovered Kagome asleep by Inuyasha's sickbed when she entered the small hut where Inuyasha had been moved from the battlefield. He hadn't been shifted since then, and the room's air was heavy, reeking of blood and decay.
Kaede gently placed a small bowl of food on the floor next to Kagome. Despite Kagome's recent loss of appetite, the elder priestess hoped the young woman would find the strength to eat something. Kagome's heartbreak was clearly evident in her dwindling figure. Kaede was filled with fear about what might happen to Kagome if Inuyasha succumbed to his injuries.
Sighing, Kaede and placed her hand on Inuyasha's forehead. His fever had subsided, which could be a good sign or an ominous one. For Kagome's sake, she prayed that the half-demon boy was finally on the mend.
It was during one of the long, sleepless nights that Kagome stayed vigil by Inuyasha's bed. She didn't have the strength to face her friends anymore, let alone endure their sympathetic glances. As if they were all preparing her to grieve for Inuyasha, to accept his inevitable demise. But his body was still warm. So, she spent all her time by his side.
Inuyasha was in a deep sleep, and Kagome watched his eyes flicker under the closed lids. She knew he would awaken as soon as his body had recuperated sufficiently. His head hadn't sustained severe injuries, and he seemed cognitively unscathed since he was able to dream. There were no neurological barriers keeping him unconscious.
Kagome traced the long, magenta stripes on his cheeks with her finger. The demon within him would heal him, she assured herself. She couldn't lose him. She wouldn't lose him.
"You know, Inuyasha," Kagome whispered tentatively, "It's been incredibly dull without you."
Kagome brushed a stray hair away from his face and continued, "Everything's so quiet now. I'm still adjusting to the idea that we won't be going on shard hunts anymore. Every morning I wake up, I still expect to hear your voice telling me to drag my sorry ass to God knows where to h-hunt after s-shards..."
Kagome paused, swallowing hard to prevent her voice from breaking. She gently reached for Inuyasha's hand, held it, and pressed her face against his palm. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, taking in his scent. She could still detect his fragrance beneath the harsh notes of blood and dirt. He smelled of a deep forest and grass after the rain.
Gripping his hand firmly, she said, "You're a real pain in the ass, making everyone worry about you. You stubborn brat. Who's going to give me a hard ti—"
She couldn't finish. Tears streamed down her face, onto her chin, and onto Inuyasha's hand. It was the first time she had allowed herself to cry since the last battle with Naraku. She nestled against Inuyasha's lifeless hand, bestowing gentle kisses on his clammy skin.
She wasn't ready to say goodbye. Not yet. Not like this.
In a place far away, warmth enveloped Inuyasha. It was summertime there. Pleasant breezes caressed his hair, rivers babbled nearby, and tree branches rustled overhead. He had never been to this place, yet it felt strangely comforting and familiar. But something made his ears twitch. A soft voice. It called out to him beyond a field of flowers. He wanted to stay in this serene place, where the sorrows of his past life did not plague him. All memories of past hardships had faded. But the voice, filled with heartache, called for him. Inuyasha gazed at the field. He wanted to stay, but...there was someone he yearned to see again.
He approached the sound. There, at the edge of the field, stood a woman. She was waiting for him.
Inuyasha reached out, attempting to touch the beautiful, sorrowful apparition. But something held him back. He tried to struggle towards her, but a sinister power seized him. It filled the air around him, constricting his chest and warping his vision.
The woman amidst the flowers turned to look at him. Wide brown eyes stared back.
Then everything turned black.
His eyes snapped open. But where there should have been two amber eyes, a pair of crimson orbs glistened in the dim dawn light. The orbs darted left and right, attempting to comprehend his surroundings. Everything seemed unfamiliar and blurry. Excruciating pain tore through his brain, blurring his vision. All he could hear was the pounding of his own pulse. Beyond the throbbing pain, he could barely feel anything. However, he sensed a heartbeat that was not his own through his hazy state.
Kagome weakly stroked Inuyasha's hand and turned her tired eyes to him. At first, she couldn't believe he had finally regained consciousness. She had been sleep-deprived for so long that she feared her mind might be tricking her with wishful dreams. But after several moments of blinking in disbelief, reality set in. He was awake! Overwhelmed with joy, she held his hand to her cheek, oblivious of the transformation.
Kagome closed her eyes and whispered chants of gratitude, all the while unaware of how the demon's other hand was clenching. The red orbs slowly recognized his surroundings, focusing on the intrusive presence that dared to touch him. As his claws extended, oozing a sickly green acid, the demon patiently waited for the human to move closer. He intended to slash her face open as soon as she was within reach, since he lacked the strength to reach her. As the demon waited patiently, something wet trickled onto the back of his hand, which the woman was caressing. Tears glistened on her face, and the demon could finally make out a full sentence amidst her incoherent mumbling.
"I knew you would come back to me."