hello this is my fanfiction world. let me know what to think. its open to everyone.
- Created By frfry
Chapter two Trimming the tree
here is the second chapter. Enjoy Chapter 2: Decorating the Christmas Tree Inuyasha blinked as the bright blue light of time travel faded, leaving him in the frozen familiarity of the shrine. Shadows danced across the walls as only...Teaching Inuyasha christmas
This is the story from my fanfiction site. Its down and i am going through withdrawal so i decided to start posting it here. Yes i know its long past Christmas but I started back in December so get use to it lol. Its going to be posted in chapters but the first six are done so ill probably post one a day in order to not overwhelm everyone. Here is the first chapter.
Disclaimer: Forgot this in my last one, I do not own Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, or any other of the marvelous character’s of Inuyasha. If I did, I would not be slaving away at college living on ramen noodles and caffeine.
Chapter one: Invitation for the holidays
“Ah, last one,” the raven-haired girl sighed in relief as she sealed the end of the brightly wrapped package with a small piece of tape. Smiling, she pulled her hand back to admire her handy work before carefully tossing the gift into a small pile of similarly wrapped packages.
Kagome smiled as she set the wrapping paper aside. “Let’s see, we’ve got an art set and candy for Shippo, some perfume and mace for Sango, a book on meditation and a binoculars for Miroku (A.N wonder what he will do with that ), some mouse toys and catnip for Kirara, and some magnetic jewelry and some candles for Kaede.” Kagome listed off holding up a finger for each person. “All I have left is Inuyasha.” Satisfied, Kagome lifted her giant yellow backpack, dropped it onto the wooden table, and began to stuff the gifts into the bloated bag.
“Leaving Kagome?” Kagome jumped at the sound of her mother’s voice. Her mother eyed the bloated bag with a hint of sadness. “I thought you were staying home this Christmas.”
“I am,” Kagome replied as she struggled with the zipper. “I’ll be back. I just have to take the others their presents first. They are staying at the village because of the snow. I’ll be back before dark.”
Her mother nodded, looking relieved, and crossed the kitchen to help her daughter. “What did Inuyasha say about you spending the holidays here?” She asked casually as she yanking the zipper closed and lifted the bag for Kagome to slide it onto her shoulders.
Kagome flushed and looked away. “Well, I haven’t exactly told him yet.”
Her mother’s eyebrow arched, “You haven’t told the others you were going.”
“Oh no, I told the others I just haven’t told Inuyasha yet.” Kagome explained looking guilty, “He can be a little . . . difficult.” More like stubborn, pigheaded and totally overbearing. Kagome thought absentmindedly. She was not looking forward to telling the protective hanyou that she was leaving for the holidays.
Her mother just nodded knowingly, “Poor dear, he must get so lonely without you there. From what you told me he doesn’t have anyone to spend the holidays with.”
“Mom, you know they don’t celebrate Christmas back then.” Kagome sighed. “Besides, Sango, Miroku and Shippo will be there.” Kagome reminded her, trying to elevate some of her guilt.
“Still, maybe you should invite him to spend Christmas with us. He does worry about you a lot.”
Kagome’s face lit up as soon as the words left her mother’s lips. A mental image of Inuyasha lying curled up like a dog under the Christmas tree with a Santa hat sitting between those two white furry ears popped into her mind, causing her to squeal with joy. “Oh really mom, is that ok.”
The women smiled at her daughter’s thrilled expression, “Of course it’s ok Kagome. I know that Souta would love to have Inuyasha here for Christmas, and this way we know he won’t worry.”
Kagome threw her arms around her mother, causing her to laugh in surprise. “Thank you mom. Oh no, it is starting to snow. I better get these gifts to them and come back before the doors to the well become buried.”
Her mother released her daughter and watched her dash towards the door before grabbed her jacket from the kitchen chair. “Yes, I must be heading out as well.”
Kagome glanced back, confused. “Where are you going?”
“Well if Inuyasha is coming for Christmas, we are going to need more food.”
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As the two were in the kitchen discussing their holiday plans, our favorite hanyou was sitting in a tree and slowly losing his mind. “Damn it, where is she?” the young boy growled as he began to pace the tree branch.
“Inuyasha, come inside and sit by the fire. You are going to end up falling down if you keep pacing like that.” The young monk said wisely, as he stood in the threshold of Kaede’s hut. Beside him, Shippo peaked outside the hut to watch Inuyasha pace.
“Yeah, Inuyasha, she will be back soon.”
“Three days, she said she would be back in three days. She promised. . .” Inuyasha muttered his pacing increasing in speed.
“She still has till nightfall Inuyasha. She is probably just running a little late.” Miroku commented in a soothing voice.
Suddenly, Inuyasha froze and sniffed at the air. A second later, he was gone, the underbrush swaying where he entered the forest.
“That means Kagome is coming, right?” Shippo asked Miroku eagerly.
Miroku smiled gently at the young fox, “Yes Shippo, I told him not to worry.”
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Kagome groaned as she tried to shove the heavy book bag over the lip of the well. Her feet slipped hazardously on the sheet of ice the bottom of the well had become. How could I have forgotten that the melt from the last snow would cause the well floor to freeze? Helplessly, she felt her right foot go out from underneath her. She braced herself to hit the ground, still holding the bag high above her head, when suddenly she felt herself being lifted off her feet. She smiled faintly as she clutched at the book bags straps, until she felt the strong hand griped her and pulled her over the lip of the well.
“Finally wench, where have you been?”
Kagome smiled, ignoring the name for once. “I’m sorry. I am running a little late, but I have a good reason. Come on, I’ll show you.”
Kagome turned gracefully and began to run toward the village, leaving a rather stunned and confused hanyou behind.
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“Christmas?” Sango, Miroku, and Shippo all chorused at once.
Kagome nodded enthusiastically as she began to rout through of the bag. Meanwhile, Inuyasha sat in the corner, his sword across his lap as he tried to act like didn’t care what she was saying.
“What’s Chrispmas, Kagome?” Shippo asked eyeing up the bag excitedly.
The young women giggled. “Not Chrispmas Shippo, Christmas. It’s a holiday we celebrate during my time. During Christmas, people get together with their family members, eat food, exchange gifts, and spend time together?” Kagome explained. “It’s really fun. You get to decorate the house, sing songs, and you get a break from classes. Here, I made these for you guys.” Kagome pulled four bracelets woven with jingle bells and handed one to each of the three curious onlookers.
“Bells?” Miroku muttered as he accepted the gift with a hint of confusion on his face.
“Yes, jingle bells. It’s a Christmas thing.” Kagome stated unsure if she wanted to try to explain Santa Claus and sleigh bells. She doubted that she would be able to explain it efficiently. Instead, she focused on tying the bracelet to Shippo’s wrist.
“Thank you, Kagome.” Shippo cried out as he started to dart around the hut shaking his wrist.
“Christmas sounds wonderful, Kagome. When is it celebrated?” Sango asked examining the bracelet before slipping it on her arm.
“In two weeks. December 25 in my time.”
“Your leaving again then, aren’t you.” Inuyasha finally piped up.
Kagome turned to face him, “Well yeah, but…”
“Ha, figures,” Inuyasha, muttered before rising.
“Inuyasha?” the young girl whispered, but the Hanyou ignored her as he passed through the doorway.
Kagome threw a questioning look at her other friends.
Sango shrugged, “he’s was acting a little strangely when you were gone, but you know Inuyasha. He is always sort of temperamental.”
“Was what he said true Kagome? Are you leaving again?” Shippo gave her a heart-wrenching look, tears brimming in his eyes.
Kagome sighed, “Yes Shippo, but only for another two weeks. I just want to spend Christmas with my family this year.”
“We understand, Kagome. You mustn’t let us monopolize your time.” Miroku said forgivingly. Sango nodded in agreement. “We will not be able to search for the shards anyway. A snowstorm is coming. It would be best if we all remain here for the time being.”
Kagome nodded, but she still could not help but feel a little guilty. “Shippo, are you sure you will be alright then?”
“Yeah Kagome, you should go home and spend some time with your family.” Shippo decided. He glanced away from the young girl his eyes full of tears, and then something caught his eye. “What’s that Kagome?” He cried out as he scampered over to her bag and pulled out one of the brightly colored packages.
“Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Since I would not be here for Christmas I decided to give out my presents early.” Kagome explained excided and relieved by the change in the conversation. “Here Shippo, this one is for you.”
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Outside the hut, a rather hurt and frustrated hanyou tried very hard to ignore the cries of excitement coming from the young people inside. How could she do this? Come one moment, leave the next, and expect me to wait like an obedient puppy until she returned. It wasn’t fair. The young boy slammed his fist into the unfortunate tree that he was sitting on. The poor tree shook from branch to root, but managed to stay intact. Frustrated, Inuyasha plopped down in the snow, a cute little pout forming on his face. Stupid Chrispmas. Stupid holidays. She did not have school; she should be spending her time with me.
A shiver went through Inuyasha as the cold snow was starting to soak into his fire rat bottoms (do they protect against water?). He hated the winter. Starting a fire out of wet wood was hard for a four-year-old child. All the winter ever gave him was freezing lonely days hulled up in some cave praying that it was not already occupied while somewhat hoping it was. Death appeared much easier then dealing with being alone when you are small, cold, and helpless. Even when he got older, winter still remained one of the hardest seasons. Sighing, the young boy pulled his knees close to his body for a moment, huddling for warmth and comfort.
A short scream issued from the hut and Inuyasha jumped up as the others emerged.
“I forgot to warn you to only use it outside.” Kagome said coughing then shrugged as Sango came through the doorway, mace in hand.
“Wow, that stuff worked well Kagome, thanks.” She muttered in amazement. A few minutes later, the monk stumbled out and fell face first into the snow. After laying there for a moment, Miroku abruptly lifted his head, scooped up a handful of snow, and proceeded to rub his eyes vigorously with it.
Finally, he lifted his head and blinked his eyes before opening them cautiously. “Kagome, what . . . interesting items you have in your time.”
“Serves you right Miroku.” Shippo muttered still clutching his new art set to his chest. “Kagome, you promise to get me some more paper for my paints while you’re gone?” He asked looking up at her with wide begging eyes as he sucked on a jawbreaker.
Kagome laughed “Sure Shippo.” she reassured them as she set her large bag into the snow before going over to Miroku to offer him a cloth to wipe the remaining pepper spray from his face.
Inuyasha frowned. She got them gifts? Making sure no one was looking; he sneaked over to Kagome’s bag and thrust his head inside. He reemerged looking hurt. She forgot me. She leaves me for a week only to come back and say she is leaving for two more. Then she did not even remember to get me anything for Chrispmas. Silently, he sent her an angry glare before turning and walking into the forest.
Meanwhile, Kagome had succeeded in rubbing the remainder of the pepper spray off the monks face, feeling slightly guilty. I got him binoculars and her pepper spray. Not a good idea. Inuyasha will not even be here to keep him out of trouble. Suddenly it clicked. Kagome glanced around, scanning the surrounding trees and rooftops. “Hey, do you guys know where Inuyasha went? I thought he was sitting out here.”
The monk looked up, his bloodshot eyes looking slightly surprised. “He must have left. Why do you ask, Kagome?”
“Well, actually I was planning on inviting him to come home with me for Christmas.” Kagome said blushing, “I figured that he would just end up driving you guys crazy so I thought it would be better just to let him come along.”
“Oh, I want to go.” Shippo cried out leaping into Kagome’s arms. Kagome gave her friends a helpless look.
Miroku smiled, “I’m sure Kagome would be happy to have you Shippo that is if you give her your art setback for awhile. After all, from what I gathered Christmas gifts are to be opened on Christmas. We were unable to do that before because we do not go by her calendar, but if you return with her I‘m sure she could rewrap it.”
Shippo quickly jumped down, clutching the set to his chest. “That’s ok Kagome. . . You should spend it with your family. Besides, Inuyasha would just be mean to me.”
Kagome mouthed a silent thank you to Miroku. “Well, I better go and find Inuyasha that way I can get home before dark. See you guys in two weeks.” She said as she slung the large bag over her shoulders and turned towards the forest as the others waved.
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“Inuyasha?” Inuyasha tried to ignore the young women’s voice, as he lay on the icy branch in his favorite tree.
“Inuyasha, where are you?” Inuyasha growled. Oh now she remembers me. Probably just coming to say goodbye before she leaves me trapped with the runt again. He continued to stare at the sky even after the footsteps stopped right underneath his tree.
“Why didn’t you answer me?” Kagome asked irritated. Inuyasha only offered a single glance, but Kagome still caught the hurt etched in his eyes. “What’s wrong?” She asked concerned. Inuyasha ignored her. Kagome frowned.
“Sit boy,” she said quietly.
Inuyasha grunted as he hit the frozen ground hard. He sat up blood trickling from his nose.
Kagome cried out. “Oh no, I’m sorry.” she blurted out rushing to his side.
Inuyasha just jumped up quickly wiping his sleeve across his nose,
erasing all the traces of the blood that had already stopped thanks to his half-demon healing abilities. “What did you do that for, wench?” he said turning to face her.
“You were ignoring me.” She stated defensively.
“What do you want me to say? I’m so happy your leaving for two weeks, thanks for putting us behind on our search by waiting for you. I’ll just go back and listen to the runt whine for days about how you’re not here and then get slapped for shutting him up.” Inuyasha ranted.
“But Inuyasha…” Kagome began. He was not finished.
“…Well you know what. I don’t need you here. I don’t need your presents and your Chrispmas and you to remember me…”
Kagome jumped in and placed a finger over his mouth, shocking the boy
out of his rant. “Is that what this is about? Oh Inuyasha, I didn’t forget about you and I didn’t come here to say goodbye. I came here to see if you want to come with me.”
The two fuzzy white ears that were up till now flat against his head in anger and hurt now perked up at her words. “What? You want me to come celebrate Chrispmas with you?” The young boy’s look of anger was replaced with one of confusion. “But, I thought that was only for family.” Inuyasha spit the world out as if it tasted bitter.
Kagome giggled nervously, “But Inuyasha, you are part of my family.”
Inuyasha blushed at this as he looked away. A rush of warm comforting
feeling bubbled up within him at the mention of that word, leaving him feel strangely vulnerable. She considers me family.
Kagome glanced up at the darkening sky and bit her lip. She knew he was fighting with himself about something and did not want rush the boy into doing something that he did not want do, but she had promised her mom they would be home before dark. “Inuyasha?”
“I’ll go.” The young boy said his bangs hiding his eyes.
Kagome’s face brightened instantly. She threw her arms around Inuyasha causing him to blush. “Oh, thank you. This is going to be so much fun. We can bake cookies, hang decorations, sing carols, and you can help us put up the Christmas tree. It will be great.”
“Yeah.” The young boy muttered, his face bright red.
Kagome smiled glancing up at the sky again. What she saw made her jump out of the hanyou’s arms. “We better hurry. I told mom we would be home before dark and its twilight.” Kagome went to pick up the bag, but felt it lift of the ground and realized that Inuyasha was already slinging it over his back.
“Yeah, we better get going.” Inuyasha said heading for the well. Kagome naturally fell in step behind him. Before they reached the well, Inuyasha broke the comfortable silence between them.
“Kagome?”
“Yeah?”
“What’s a Christmas tree?”
T.B.C
Read between the lines
Disclaimer: As always, i do not own inuyasha
Reading between the lines
“Sit boy.” I hissed, feeling a tinge of statistic joy as I watched the young boy’s face slammed into the ground.
Turning away from him, I took a deep breath and attempt to calm myself. I hate feeling like this. Feeling so much anger and hurt, but not quite enough to escape a twinge of guilt for sitting him.
“Damn it wench, what was that for?” I heard Inuyasha say as he struggled to get up from the forest floor.
A stab of pain goes through me. That word. I can’t hold back anymore. “Sit sit sit sit sit sit sit.” I screamed, finally reaching that special point the point where I can watch him hit the ground again and again without remorse. The point that I can finally be satisfied that with each bone jarring impact his physical pain matches the searing ache I feel with every slicing word from his mouth.
Despite this satisfaction, I can still feel the humiliating tears begin to gather in my eyes. Suddenly, I can’t stand to be near him anymore, can’t stand to let him see me cry again and to see that look of disgust in his eyes. I can almost read his mind in these moments. He resents me for not being strong like her. In his head, he’s comparing me to his pain-filled memories of Kikyo, calculating and analyzing the differences. I’ll never be worthy like Kikyo was. He has always pointed out how useless and clumsy I am. How often he needs to protect me for every little terror in the forest. I am not a strong infallible person, able to stand up to a towering demon with merely a bow and arrow. I cannot use my Miko powers to protect whole villages from gangs of crazed demons. In his eyes, I’ll never be as pretty, smart, crafty, or worthy of his love as she is.
Hiding my tears, I throw my backpack over my shoulder and head for the well, shouting back at him that I was leaving for good. I run, knowing that if he called out to me I would lose my conviction and come crawling back to him. I hate myself for that. Hate myself for not being able to live without him for any long period of time. So I flee like a weak coward while he is still chocking on dirt, unable to stop me. Flying through the forest I come to the one place of safety from him. The well. Jumping over the side, I feel the soft blue light swell around me, carrying me safely towards the future. Sitting in the bottom of the well in my own time, I am able to let go and sob.
How could he say such things to me, calling me a wench? Is that all that I am to him? Does he see me as merely something to be used until I became inconvenient or unneeded, until he could finally throw me back into the street like some kind of stray dog? Yes, I’m nothing but his “shard detector”. He’s never shied away from telling me that. He’s made it perfectly clear that I am merely his tool for getting his revenge on Naraku, nothing more. And knowing that kills me. Even now in my own time, away from his prying analyzing eyes, my heart aches to be near him. I know that no matter how much I threaten, how much I promise myself that I won’t go back. That I will stay here and leave the past in the past instead of tormenting myself trying to stay torn between the ages. I know that I will not be able to stay way form him for long.
Dragging that giant yellow bag behind me, I run towards the sanctuary of my room. I know that it will only be a matter of hours before the hanyou arrives to force me back into the feudal era and all the pain that comes with it. Throwing the bag down once I got through the door, I dive into the comforting contours of my bed. I begin to cry fully now, letting go completely to the wracking sorrow that feels like it’s going to tear me apart. My mother hears my sobbing and I can hear her footsteps coming my way. I know she worries about me. My whole family worries about me. They think that I am focusing too much of my energy on my task in the feudal era. They worry about my schoolwork and my future. They plead with me to split my time evenly so that I can go to school like a normal girl and get my education. That way, when our task is completed in the feudal era and I have to come home, I will have the education and the skills to be able to return to a normal life. They want me to go to college, get a job and a husband, and have some children. I don’t have the heart to tell them I can’t.
Inuyasha has become much more than a traveling companion to me, he has become my life. I am in love with him, helplessly in love. Once the well is sealed, if I am trapped in my own time and unable to return and visit Sango, Miroku, Shippo and most of all Inuyasha, I won’t be able to go on. How could I? How does one lose four of the most important people in your life, not to mention dozens of friends, and still have the will to live? How could I just return to my old life, go to school, hang out with friends and act like nothing had ever happened, like they never even existed? Even if I could bring myself to do it, it would not be right. My friends are like my family now and Shippo is my son. I couldn’t leave them for the world.
“Kagome, you must stop this.” I almost jumped when I heard my mother’s voice behind me. I could only cry harder even with her comforting hand on my shoulder. “You must stop tormenting yourself.” In a gentler voice she begged, “Come with us visiting this month. Take a break from them, please Kagome. I can’t stand seeing you in pain like this. You deserve some time off.”
Three weeks? Three weeks away from him would be worst then torture. I was about to refuse, about to tell her that it would be best if I just stayed here. I could make some excuse about having a big test at school or something. But then I caught sight of my reflection shining in the mirror. I looked like a monster. My eyes were red and swollen from my crying. My cheeks were stained with tears and my face was bright red from sobbing so hard. Still, it was the look in my eyes that scared me the most. My eyes were empty, void of the happiness and passion that use to shine like diamonds. I wasn’t myself anymore. Suddenly, I realized that I did look like Kikyo, but in the worst way possible. I looked like a corpse.
“Yes, I think I will. I will go with you. I think that would be lovely.” I forced myself to say. All the pain that I would have to endure seemed immediately worth it when I saw how my mother’s eyes lit up. I did not realize just how worried my family had been. She looked like a drowning man just thrown a life raft. Satisfied by my answer she rose to leave me alone to my tears. After she left and I had cried myself out, I sat there wondering just how I would go about telling the others that I would be gone for three weeks. I realized with dread that Inuyasha would never allow it. He would bar me from leaving, telling me that I was ruining the mission and that I was being selfish for wanting to leave now. Even if I managed to escape him, he would follow me. Two days after I left he would just show up and drag me back with him, kicking and screaming sit all the way if he needed to. Nothing would stop him from getting his vengeance on Naraku for what he did. He cared for revenge more than anything in the world.
I won’t tell him, I decided. I knew that it was cowardly of me. I knew that the others, especially Shippo, would be worried sick about me, but I also knew that if I went back he would convince me not to go and I needed this. I needed to get the life back into my eyes.
We left that very day merely hours after my mother had asked me to join them. I think she was afraid that if she waited too long to leave that I would back out of my decision. She made me promise that I would at least try to have a good time and forget about the feudal era for a little while. I was surprised by how easy that was. For three weeks, while surrounded by family and friends, I was able to forget all the worry and stress of chasing Naraku, forget the pain of loving Inuyasha and knowing that he loved someone else. I was finally free from all that.
I was able to go to some movies and hang out with some of my old friends around our families homes. I was able to go shopping with some of my cousins and even flirted with a few other boys, but nothing serious. My heart was taken after all. I bought the others a few things out of guilt of leaving them for three weeks. Other then that I did not think about them much. For three weeks, I was a normal girl running about Tokyo without a care in the world.
After those weeks were up I felt refreshed and finally ready to get back to work in the feudal era. I had to admit I was very eager to return to the others. Despite the fact that being normal for a while had been fun and relaxing I realized something very important during this time. After spending so much time in the feudal era, facing death on a daily basis, having people depend on you for their very life, life in the normal world seemed completely silly. The worries that seem so important today were foolish compared to the constant struggle to survive and thrive in a demon infested time. Living in the feudal era was much more fulfilling. Even if I could not have Inuyasha, the life I have there is still worth so much. I was looking forward to the chaos waiting for me outside the well. I was also looking forward to seeing the others and to hold my foster son in my arms again. I realized how much I missed them after all this time apart. The only thing that I was not looking forward to was facing their anger. I know they were probably very concerned about me while I was away and I felt terrible for not telling them I was leaving.
My mother seemed neither surprised nor angry that I wanted to go back as soon as we got home and unpacked. Perhaps she just needed to know that I could bounce back from my slump and become her little girl again. She smiled at me and silently gave me one of my school uniforms and told me that she would pack me a lunch for my trip over. I nodded and told her that I was going up to pack. Once in my room, I hesitated. I fidgeted and dawdled in unpacking my things from the trip until my mother called up to tell me that the lunch she made was ready. Finally, I decided that I had stalled long enough. I packed my giant yellow bag with all that I needed, closed the door to my room, kissed my family goodbye and headed for the well.
Jumping down into the inky blackness, I felt the blue light encompass me at once and deposit me on the other side of the well. Taking a breath of the clean untainted air, I sighed. “I’m home,” I whispered, grabbing a hold of the conveniently placed vine and began to ascend the walls of the well. I was surprised when no strong arms grabbed me and haul me over the side. I expected the moment I ended up in the well Inuyasha would catch my scent and be here to scream at me for holding them up. Instead, I climbed the well’s walls and threw my yellow bag over the side without assistance, before pulling myself over the lip as well. I glanced around and saw nothing but the surrounding forest.
I was furious. I leave for two whole weeks and they don’t even know that I’m gone. How else could I explain the fact that there was no hanyou there to greet me? I huffed and headed towards the village fully prepared to kill a certain half-demon. I was partly there when I hear a familiar voice.
“Come on mutt, you’re not even trying. Fight me. Tear me apart.” Koga? What is he doing here? Maybe he heard that I was gone and came to look for me. Realizing that he and Inuyasha must be in the forest somewhere fighting, I headed towards his voice, silently hopping that Inuyasha would not kill him before I got there. “Come on, move. Defend yourself. Give a damn about your life!” On that last word I heard Koga’s voice break and was confused. Something was terribly wrong. I could feel it. Dropping my back I began to run towards the sound of his voice, the underbrush of the forest slowing me down.
“Fine, I give up. I can’t do this anymore. Damn you Kagome. How could you? Damn you?” Koga sobbed. I stopped shocked by the sound. The sobbing got fainter and I realized that Koga was moving away. Why was he leaving? Why wasn’t Inuyasha fighting him, cursing at him for what he had just said? On the other hand why was Koga cursing me in the first place? Koga usually fought tooth and nail for me just to look at him. The forest was finally thinning out, telling me that the clearing was ahead. I burst through the trees.
Koga was gone and for a moment I thought that Inuyasha had left too. I couldn’t see him standing in the clearing, sword thrown on his back as he would be after any other fight with Koga. Then I caught a flash of red to my right. “Inuyasha?” Yes, it was the firerat robe alright. I could see its ruby color shining in the sun. But something was wrong. It was lying on the ground like someone had thrown in a heap, unless. . . I ran forward my heart beginning to pound in my chest. Yes, it’s Inuyasha. He was lying on the ground and he was not moving.
“Inuyasha!” I screamed as I ran to his side. What had Koga done to him? When I got to him, I began to cry. Oh my god what had happened to him. Inuyasha was unconscious, lying on his back. He skin was pale as death and he was barely breathing. The first thing I noticed was that his cheeks were sunken in, hollow with starvation. He looked like a war victim. Tears blurred my vision as I took in his tangled filthy hair, his soiled and dirty clothing, and his sunken eyes. He looked like he had not eaten in days. I had to get him to the village, to get him help.
“It’s alright Inuyasha, I’m here. I’ll get you some help.” I cooed to him, trying to comfort him. I had to move him. I didn’t know if he had gotten hurt in his fight with Koga, didn’t even know if he had had the strength left to lift a sword, but I feared he would die if I left him here while I ran back to the village. “I’m going to lift you Inuyasha. Don’t be afraid.” I wasn’t sure if he could hear me, but I hoped he could. Carefully I reached over to take his wrist so I could pull him into the sitting position to throw him over my shoulder in a fireman’s hold. I sobbed when I felt his arm. He was nothing but skin and bones. Any muscle that used to rope up his arms had been devoured by his body in an attempt to keep him alive.
“What happened to you?” He was so light. He had to weigh less than the bag that I had brought over the well. As fast as I could I ran towards the village. “Hold on Inuyasha. We’re almost there.” I huffed. I could smell the smoke of the village fires nearby. Silently, I just prayed for him to keep breathing, for him to hold on for just a little while longer. I saw the first huts in the distance.
“Kaede, help! Kaede!” I screamed as soon as I saw the first few villagers.
“Kagome?!” I heard a familiar voice call out as I ran.
“Miroku. It’s Inuyasha. He’s hurt.” I said, almost sobbing in relief when I saw the purple robed figure standing near me. Ever since finding Inuyasha I was sure that the others were dead. That was the only way I could imagine Inuyasha ending up in such a poor state. I ran towards him, hoping he would help me. I stopped in my tracks when I saw his face. He looked furious, like he was about to strike me. He was angrier then I had ever seen him. Stepping forward, he snatched Inuyasha from my arms both as quickly and gently as possible as soon as I came within reach. Then, glaring at me, he started to jog towards Kaede’s hut, leaving me standing there confused and alone. He wasn’t the only one giving me angry looks. All around the villagers’ vicious glares met me. Trying hard to ignore them, I ran after Miroku to the healer’s hut. Just as I was coming up to it I heard another familiar voice. “Kagome, you're back.”
Seconds later I was nearly knocked down by a flying fur ball. I caught Shippo with practiced skill and was quite surprised when the young boy latched onto my neck with all his strength and began to cry. “I thought you were never coming back.” the young boy sobbed. “You left and then Inuyasha got sick. I was so scared,” the young boy trembled with each heaving sob and my heart broke for him. Sensing someone else near me, I looked up to see Sango staring at me.
“Sango, Inuyasha’s. . .” I cried out as her hand hit the side of my face hard causing me to reel for a moment. During my dizziness, I saw Shippo launch himself at her.
“Don’t hit Kagome.” the boy cried, slamming his tiny fist against her chest a few times. Sango did not try to stop him, just stood there and let the boy hit her. After awhile, he collapsed into her arms, clinging to her shirt helplessly. “Please don’t hurt Kagome. She might leave again and never come back.” My heart lurched in my chest. I looked from the crying boy, to the murderous looking Sango, towards the healer’s hut, and a terrible thought occurred to me. A thought that made me moan as my stomach started to churn, fearfully.
Sango seemed to read my mind. “Yes, Inuyasha wasn’t attacked. He hasn’t been ill. He’s like this because of you,” she said in a detached voice. I gasped, tears falling down my face as my legs gave out from underneath me and I fell to my knees, my mind whirling in a fit of pain. “Come inside.” She told me, going into a neighboring hut.
“When Inuyasha realized that you were gone, he figured you had gone back to your own time, since you guys had been fighting. But after two days passed and you did not come back, he went looking for you. When he got to your house, all the windows and doors were locked. He said that your scent had been gone for at least a day. He could not even smell your cat. That’s the last day he ate. After a week, Miroku and I thought you weren’t coming back. You usually told us if you were going to be gone that long. Since Inuyasha said that he saw no sign of struggle or any disturbance at your home, we figured you had left willingly. We told Shippo that you had to leave and we urged Inuyasha to eat and to except the fact that you were not coming back. Shippo cried every night after that but slowly seemed to understand that he would never see you again. It was hard for him but he accepted it.
‘Inuyasha on the other hand refused to move on. He refused to leave the village in hopes that you would come back. He would wake up every morning and walk to the well to wait for you. At night he would hunt for Shippo and us, but would refuse to eat anything. Then he would go to sleep for a few hours before starting the routine over again. Around a week and a half after you had gone, he left the village altogether and started to spend all his time at the well. I think he did not want to admit to himself that he was getting to weak to walk back and forth from the village every day.
By that time Koga had heard that you were gone and had come to see if it was true. When he saw Inuyasha he was appalled. Inuyasha look about as bad as he did when you found him in the clearing today. I don’t know if it was out of a feeling of duty to you or if Koga actually liked Inuyasha, but from that moment on he vowed to help us. Him and Miroku held Inuyasha down and force-fed him. Inuyasha gagged the whole time, but the broth stayed down. His body wouldn’t let him throw it up. Together they could force him to eat, but they couldn’t force him to come back to the village. Every time they tried he would thrash and fight them until they were afraid that he would break something. So they left him there.
‘He sat there by the well all day regardless of the weather and waited for you to return. Sometimes Shippo would join him, but at the first sign of bad weather Inuyasha sent him back. He cares about him like a son I think. Koga stayed close to protect Inuyasha in his weakened state. Inuyasha would not even leave the well’s side to protect himself. Sesshomaru came and tried to goat him into a fight. In a way I think it was his way of trying to help his little brother. Inuyasha didn’t move. Even when Sesshomaru grabbed the hilt of his sword, he did not care. When Sesshomaru left, I was almost sure I saw tears in the demon’s eyes, but I could have been mistaken.” Sango sighed, setting down the now sleeping Shippo on a cot in the corner. She then turned towards me and I saw the depth of pain and suffering in her eyes and it almost killed me. “That’s the way it went on. Every two days they would force Inuyasha to eat. He stopped struggling when they did it after awhile. He simply sat there staring at the well. They would then sit down and talk to him for awhile, try and convince him to come back to the village. Kikyo even showed up eventually. Three times she visited him and she tried to convince him to eat. He didn’t even look at her. His eyes stayed glued to that well like he expected you to come climbing out of it any minute.”
He ignored Kikyo?! But Kikyo was the love of his life. He wants to be with her forever, wants to follow her into hell. He would die for her, wouldn’t he? My head was spinning. Images kept flashing through my mind. Inuyasha standing outside my house, the windows dark and empty. Inuyasha staring at the well, ignoring the beautiful women standing at his side. Inuyasha wasting away waiting for me. Suddenly, it all made sense. His anger when I came through the well late, his jealousy every time Koga tried to take my hand, all those attacks he leapt in front of minutes before they hit me, it all fit.
“What have I done?” He loves me. All this time he has loved me. Not the way in the storybooks, not all flowers, sweet words, and chocolate, but in his own way he cares and I left him. All those years I envied Kiko and I had what she use to have all along, and I left him just like she did. What have I done? Why couldn’t I read between the lines? I broke down, sobbing harder than I ever have in my life. As I did, I heard someone enter the hut.
“Kaede says he’s alive. He must have passed out from exhaustion, but she says if we can’t get him to eat anything besides the broth that he is going to starve to death in the next few days,” Miroku said. I could feel his eyes on me though I could not stop crying to look at him. “He is away but barely. You may speak to him.”
Kaede did not look surprised or angry at me when I walked into the room. She simply gave me an expressionless glance before gesturing towards the curtain in the back of the room. She then left the hut to give us some privacy. I parted the curtain and entered the room. He was lying asleep on a cot. I knelt down, trying not to sob as I looked at his fragile thin face. Gently, I reached forward to brush dirty silver bangs away from his closed eyes. He stirred and opened those honey colored eyes, blinking like he didn’t believe what he was seeing.
“Kagome?” His voice was hoarse and weak; it almost broke my heart.
“Yes, Inuyasha, it’s me.” Suddenly, he lurched forward, throwing himself into my arms and hugging me with more force than I thought his brittle body could muster. .
“Kagome, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said. I’ll never say it again. Please come back.” Then Inuyasha, one of the strongest persons I have ever met, began to cry. My heart shattered. He blamed himself. He’s laying there half-starved, filthy, and near death and he blames himself. I couldn’t hold my tears back anymore.
Gathering him into my arms, I begin to rock him like a child as we weep together. “It’s not your fault Inuyasha. I shouldn’t have left without telling you first. I shouldn’t have made you hurt yourself like this. It’s not your fault.” I whispered into his ear. He cried harder, his whole body wracking with sobs that he was fighting to hold back.
“I love you, Kagome, I love you.” he whispered again and again like a prayer, holding me so tight I could barely breathe like he was afraid if he let go I would disappear.
“I love you too, Inuyasha, with all my heart always.” I whisper back sending him into another fit of tears. I just held him and rocked him until he calmed down. Finally, after awhile, he runs out of tears and his sobs fade. He’s exhausted and clearly embarrassed by his tears. Carefully, I lower him back onto the mat and stroke his face and hair. He just sits there and stares at me as if I am the most beautiful thing in the world.
After we continued this way in silence for a few minutes, he suddenly frowns. “What’s the matter Inuyasha?” I whisper, unable to stand him being unhappy.
“Kagome…I’m hungry.” he stated, looking up at me innocently.
I laugh, tears threatening again only this time tears of joy. “I’ll tell them to get you something to eat right away.” I tell him, starting to get up. His thin arm stops me. I look back at him and seeing the twinge of fear in his eyes, I freeze.”
“Please don’t go.” He begs. Sighing, I lay down beside him. Gathering him up in my arms I begin to stroke his hair again.
“I won’t Inuyasha. I’ll never leave you again.” With that, we both fell asleep in each other’s arms.
