Inuyasha found himself inside a dark and narrow tunnel. He walked cautiously down a cobbled path, searching for any sign of light, yet shadows and the howling of a great wind were all he could make sense of.
He swallowed thickly, wondering whether he was lost from Kagome and all of his friends. He could not recall what happened to him, no matter how deeply he tried to bring up a memory of the moments leading to this state of limbo.
Had he been taken to a cave? But who brought him here and for what purpose?
Wondering without intent brought him nowhere, so he simply moved forward hoping to find some sort of way out of this place. And then he saw it. A yellow light; one almost imperceptible and faint, yet there, not too far off in the distance. So he began to run. He ran and he ran, his footsteps echoing against the gale. His breath grew heavy and exhaustion nearly claimed him, but nothing could sway his resolve, for his purpose, for now, was simply to meet that light.
Soon enough, the light began to change hues, a cacophony of colors swirling, until it began to encompass him. The colors were merely a blur, and no images could be deciphered. At least, not for a time, until he set off again, racing with every breath in him, to a path further up with murky images that quickly turned to pictures like the ones at home. The very same kind that Kagome held in remembrance of a life now lost.
She was here in each picture. He stopped to observe a few of them. His brow furrowed in consternation when he noticed that every image had Kagome in a position of struggle. Demons held her aloft. Others attempted to kill her. Some even tried to possess her.
He set off again, this time away from every image that haunted him; a reminder of every wrong thrust upon his wife. But instead of the images blurring as he wished, they morphed instead into moving pictures, with sound replacing the whooshing of the wind.
He could hear Kagome screaming his name. Begging him to come to her. Begging him to stay. Begging him to save her.
It was then he realized that he was lost in a tunnel of what could only be described as hell. Because only hell would remind him of every evil done to his wife in an effort to torture him without fail. And that's what this sensory experience was, a tangible form of torture, meant to break him.
It was working. So much of his past had been a tragedy, but at least no one else had been hurt except him. Now he had his woman, and the images plaguing him reminded him of all the hurt he brought to Kagome's life.
So much of her sadness was his fault. So much of her tears…
He wanted out of this place. It was paramount above all else that he find an escape because he wanted nothing to do with these memories that tainted every moment of joy he was able to experience recently.
He raced through the tunnel, ignoring the onslaught of imagery until even the sounds of the cave began to muffle into a discordant symphony of chaos. He would rather have that than easily construed wails of Kagome screaming and crying because of his failed actions. He would rather be rid of them than have them near him again.
"Is this true?" he heard someone whisper. The sound echoed throughout the cave, drowning out the other noises made earlier. "Is this true? Is this true? Is this true?"
Inuyasha did not respond, yet inwardly he wished to scream in the affirmative.
"I can make you forget again," the voice said.
Inuyasha remained still.
"I can make you forget everything all over again. You were freed from the monotony. You'll be free this time from the sadness, Inuyasha."
Temptation gripped him because he wanted nothing more than to be free of this nightmare, if that is what this was. But he could not trust the voice, nor could he find in himself the will to respond despite the bleakness of his circumstance.
He walked, slowly now, through the illuminated path. Images still surrounded him, but they remained silent as if expecting the voice to speak again. And it did.
"Your life has been nothing but a tragedy. Would it not be better to be free from every memory, the rejection, and the pain?"
Pain was both an enemy and companion to Inuyasha. It lasted longer than any other thing in his life. He knew it best. Could he let it go? What would that entail anyway?
Finally, he spoke.
"What will I lose if I get rid of all of that?"
"Whatever was connected to the moment."
That did not seem like such a bad thing. He looked at the images. They were all of them tragic. Was this what his life amounted to? He and Kagome in pain. Kagome kidnapped. Kagome weeping. His child dead.
How pathetic.
Even so, a thought came to mind…
"Show me what it connects itself to."
The voice did not respond. Inuyasha growled in frustration. "Show me!"
The images began to flow like water, moving away from Inuyasha, but he met their speed with equal momentum until he could finally make it out and gasped.
With each moving picture of every moment of tragedy, a new image emerged with a moment of clarity and hope. Whenever Kagome was in danger, he managed to find a way to get back to her and provide aide. And in all instances, when she saw him, she received him with love and overwhelming joy.
Would letting go of all of the heartache, also rid him of the moments of joy he experienced with Kagome?
The images reminded him of all they shared and he could finally see the beauty and simplicity of their story. Before him, he could see memories like when he woke from the Tree of Time and was able to gaze upon her beautiful face for the first time. Or when he was able to see her bathing in Kaede's village, all those years ago. She screamed at him and told him to "sit!" He should have been angry, but the image of her body moved him in ways he never felt before.
Or when she told him she missed him and wanted to stay by his side instead of with Koga. Or when she woke after nearly dying from being poisoned. He remembered weeping for her, thinking she had been gone from him. Just the thought set him in a frenzy. He could feel his heart palpitate suddenly as if yearning to escape from his chest. It was made even worst when he saw himself looking into the Bone Eater's Well waiting for Kagome to return to him after three years of having her absent from his life.
Even more scenes appeared before him. Things which seemed rather mundane and ordinary enchanted him. The couple cleaning the house, him running across the floor with a cloth on hand. Gardening. Kagome cooking him a delicious meal. Parties with their friends. Their conversations. Their banter. Their love making...
No. Losing his memories simply meant he would lose her and he would never allow this. Had he not promised this already? So what if their past held so much hurt? There was too much beauty and wonder with every image of Kagome to even fathom a moment without her.
The canvas of their life would not be whole if any fabric was erased.
He stopped walking and shouted to the void, "Let me out of here!"
"What is your choice?" the voice replied.
"I choose to remember! I embrace it all!"
At first, nothing changed. Then suddenly a new light appeared far into the cave, now white and ever so bright, in the shape of an X. He ran to it, knowing without a doubt that up ahead was his future, one he would never grow tired of for the rest of his days.
Kagome would be there, waiting for him with arms wide, and that was the only place he ever needed to be. Forever and always.
As he continued forward, the light began to increase in size until all images fell away, and the blinding rays of tomorrow covered him completely.
Inuyasha awoke with a gasp. He shot up from his cot, sweat glistening from his forehead. Miroku sat next to him, holding his arm in a tight grip.
"Inuyasha, you're awake!"
Inuyasha looked around the room. They were in Kaede's home, sequestered in the same quarters where Kagome rested weeks ago. Inuyasha sent Miroku a side glance. "Where's Kagome?" he rasped, almost as if he hadn't drunk water in days.
Miroku quickly offered him a small cup, while saying, "She just went back to your house a few minutes ago to bring in some new clothes for you."
Inuyasha set the cup down and stood abruptly, but reeled back when a wave of lethargy hit him.
Miroku caught him before falling and urged Inuyasha to remain in bed. "You are not well," he said. "Your demonic nature has yet to subside."
Inuyasha looked at him, his gaze sharp and focused with alacrity despite the fact that they were the color of blood and death. Yes, he could feel his demonic nature enshrouding him, but he still had full control over his actions. "I'm leaving."
"But Inuyasha, you must—"
"Don't try to stop me."
When the dizziness subsided, he stood again far more slowly, with caution. He had no issue focusing now and took two steps forward. He knew he was weak and should have remained in bed, but there was an overwhelming sense of urgency that required his attention.
"How long have I been out?
"Two days."
Inuyasha swore to himself. Kagome must have been so worried.
Inuyasha paused at the door to glance back at Miroku. He needed to thank his friend for all he had done, but that was for another day. For now, he would focus on what brought him to this very path eons ago: a simple life he now came to adore.
"Do not come to my house unless I say so."
Miroku stood in protest. "Inuyasha—"
But all that greeted Miroku was the wind.
Authors note: I apologize for the late addition! The next chapter shall be up soon. It's already written. I just need to edit it. _