InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Little Fall of Rain ❯ Sing With Me The Songs We Knew ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Wish I did, but I don't. It belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. I'm just borrowing the characters for my own amusement and entertainment, and that of my readers. And cause I just love 'em!

I love this song . . . if you have it, I would suggest listening to it while reading this. It's what I wrote it to. And what it was inspired by. "A Little Fall of Rain," from Les Misérables.

A Little Fall of Rain

by Chione

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"The rain that brings you here,
Is heaven blessed
The skies begin to clear
And I'm at rest
A breath away
From where you are
I've come home,
From so far. . ."

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More than anything, I remember the light. It's the most asinine thing, the biggest cliché in history but it's true. I suppose all clichés have to come from somewhere right?

It wasn't so beautiful that I could do nothing but walk to it. I think really, it was frightening. I knew what it was. Nirvana. Heaven. Hell. Valhala. Or the next life. But I was not compelled toward it. In fact, the only thing I could think of was a question. Ludicrous. Absolutely infuriating to the point that I wanted to walk into the bloody light if only to get back at myself for thinking it.

Is this what Kikyou saw, when she died?

I hoped so. I hope her death was as pleasant as mine. Well, as pleasant as a death can be. I couldn't feel much pain, not after a bit. And I was surrounded by those I loved. My sister, my friend however perverted he may be, my love, my son. What more could anyone ask for? I was a little young, but that's okay. Because I died for something worthwhile. Someone worthwhile. Kikyou once told me that we always had a choice whether or not to save a person. And I think, this time, I did chose. But it was as much a choice as breathing. Technically, I could stop, but who would want to? Who would try? And after a short time, you can't help but breath again. It's your instincts.

I stepped forward. There wasn't anywhere else to go, really. It was that or stay here in limbo forever. I smiled. I missed everyone already and I wanted nothing more than to blink, to wake up in my sleeping bag with Inuyasha watching over me as I slept, only to leapt back and give a "Feh!" when I'd call him on it. Or maybe waking up in my own bed, Inuyasha sticking his head in my window with a grumble about getting up so we could chase after some shard or rumor. Or Souta could be waking me up, because Inuyasha was giving me a break for a test that day.

They were childish hopes, I knew, but I didn't care. Everyone's allowed to be childish sometimes, ne?

Another step. Another few feet away from my life, the people I was leaving behind. It was so easy to walk into the afterlife. But I drug my feet anyway, I didn't want to let go just yet. In my head I could hear Inuyasha, shouting as he had so many times, "Wait for me, Kagome!" Every time I was kidnapped, or something happened, that's what he's say as he was rushing to my rescue. My ears imagined hearing him again, this time to save me from death.

I giggled. It was all so childish and absurd, but I was okay with that. It helped me lift my feet for each progressing step.

Then suddenly there was a weight on my shoulder that shouldn't have been there. A hand. The five fingered pressure weighing me down to whatever was beneath me. I turned, slowly. I half expected some invisible force to prevent the pivoting of my heels. But nothing. I pivoted on my heels, until my back faced the welcoming light of the afterlife.

And for a moment, I actually believed Inuyasha had found a way to bring me back.

Staring down at me was a man with the same flowing, silver hair, and the same golden eyes I loved. He wore armor much like Sesshomaru's, and shared the same facial tattoos Inuyasha gains during his full youkai moments. But unlike Sesshomaru, and unlike Inuyasha, his face was gentle. Comforting and warm. More refreshing than what lay behind me.

He was Inuyasha's father. Inu-Taisho, former Demon Lord of the Western Lands. There was no one else he could be.

And he was smiling at me. "Kagome."

I didn't bother wondering how or why he knew my name. Enough weird things have happened in my lifetime that it didn't even cross my mind. Instead my shoulders drooped and I let go of all the tension accumulating in my body. I was tired. All of the sudden, I couldn't wait for rest, even if I had to walk into the light. I was so tired. Of everything. Waiting for Inuyasha, taking tests, making excuses, watching Miroku hurt Sango and visa versa, seeing Shippo forced to grow up because of our unusual circumstances. Why couldn't I just make it all better? Make it all go away? And then take a nice, long nap without worries or jewel shards.

It felt like the weight of the world was resting on my eyelids but I couldn't ever close them because then everything would shatter on the floor. I wanted to, now. Now that the pain and exhaustion of my death was creeping up on me, now that everything was out of my hands and into those of the living. Still they wouldn't fall. I still couldn't let go just yet.

"Kagome, I must thank you." He spoke as I had assumed he would. Regal, full of self-assurance, but gentle enough that he wasn't frightening; he seemed like the perfect father figure. I wished he had been there for Inuyasha. It would've made his life so much easier. So much happier. "You have given my son what no one else ever has since his mother and I passed on. Unconditional love."

Had I? It seemed pretty conditional to me. I left him when he ran off with Kikyou, I couldn't always forgive him right away for hurting me with his words. I let jealousy get the better of me, when the baby Naraku searched my heart for darkness, giving him the leverage he needed to control me. I promised him I'd always be by his side, but I wouldn't follow him and Kikyou to Hell. Not that he asked me to, but if he did. . .

I died for him, isn't that the same thing?

"You swore to remain at his side." Inu-Taisho narrowed his eyes, no longer reflecting the kind aura of before. Rather, he glared down at me, almost challenging. "Are you going to give up now? Break your oath? I suppose my elder son was correct, if that is the case. Humans are too weak."

My hackles rose. So much for first impressions. His accusations pushed something inside of me. Of course I didn't want to leave Inuyasha. I didn't want to leave any of them, but I really had no say so. It's not like I can avoid death. Even Kikyou couldn't do that. "No!" I shouted, "I didn't just give up! I kept my promise as long as I could, but not even a full demon can hold off death! I died to save his life! I didn't leave him because I wanted to!" I was crying. Sobbing with each breath, my hands flinging about in wild gestures to get him to understand. I wanted him to believe me. He was Inuyasha's father. He was all the company I had, and I was lonely, and tired. So very tired.

Why was I so weary? I hadn't been until now. I was DEAD. I didn't have a body to wear out, and wasn't death known as the 'final rest'?

"You are weary because you were not meant to die as you did. You're spirit will remain depleted until it returns to the living world, where it belongs." His harshness had worn off, and once again he watched me with--compassion? It was unusual coming from those golden eyes. Never had either of his sons shown me that look.

"What?" It was easy enough to guess I wasn't supposed to die when I did. I was young. But would I have to wait until I was reincarnated to shake off this fatigue? Or could I somehow return to life? Is it possible? Without becoming like Kikyou?

"You are a miko. You are more powerful than you know, than you can imagine." Like that answered all my unspoken questions. I knew that. But he smiled at me, mischievous. And I knew where Inuyasha had gotten his teasing side from. He did have one, though most people couldn't see it for what it was. "Don't give up on my son. If I could, I would show you what Inuyasha feels, holding your body in his arms, unable to do anything but scream. I wish you could hear what I can; he cries for you."

"He cries for me?" I asked. His smile waned, and he nodded. Then he vanished, and I was alone again.

I fell to my knees, not feeling any pain as they collided with the nonexistent ground. There wasn't one, really, just air that I could stand on and the reflection of the light behind me. Actually, I was just air. Maybe a little emotion, but mostly air. I was just a spirit. I wanted so badly to go back. To see everyone, once more. Just once and I could deal with this.

I'd never give up on him. Maybe I've come close in the past, but I wouldn't ever really do it. I love him to much. I think I could forgive him to, for anything. I've been told I'm too forgiving for my own good, but I don't believe that's possible. There's too many unforgiving people in the world, and I figured if I could just give a little more of it to the world, my life would have some purpose and meaning. Yuka always said to me that I was wasting myself on people who could never appreciate my kindness. "Don't fall for someone who won't catch you," she'd say. Particularly in regards to my 'two-timing, jealous, violent on-and-off again boyfriend.' In other words, Inuyasha.

But he did catch me. Even if he always sets me back on my feet afterwards, that's not what matters.

What matters is that he caught me when I fell. And that makes everything worth it.

I glanced around me once more, hoping for another visitor, or someone--anyone--to tell me what to do next. Where to go.

But there was no one.

I didn't want to be alone.

I didn't want Inuyasha to be alone. I never meant for him to cry.

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"Hush-a-bye, dear Eponine

Don't you fret, Monsieur Marius

You won't feel any pain

I don't feel any pain

A little fall of rain

A little fall of rain

Can hardly hurt you now

Can hardly hurt me now

I'm here

You're here, that's all I need to know. . ."

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And that's all folks! For chapter two, anyway. This could get long. But oh well. I love this song . . . if you have it, I would suggest listening to it while reading this. It's what I wrote it to. And what it was inspired by. "A Little Fall of Rain," from Les Miserables.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE REVIEWS! I LOVE YOU ALL! Please review some more and tell me what you think of this chapter. They will get the next chapter out quickly-er. Erm, that's not a word. But whatever. REVIEW! PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE!

Bye bye for now!
Chione