InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ After the Storm ❯ Secrets... ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter One

 

 

The next morning, everyone awoke to find Kagome perfectly healthy and happy. As a matter of fact, she was up before everyone else, and the delicious smell of whatever she was cooking over Kaede's cooking pit was what had woken them all up. Inuyasha sat in a nearby corner, the only other one awake before everyone else, and watched Kagome warily as the others gathered around her to assure themselves that she was okay. She brushed off their concerns with gentle smiles and light little laughs. Shippou jumped up onto her shoulder and hugged her happily as she handed out servings of rice and eel to everyone.

 

"It's hard to believe that he's finally gone," commented Kagome, handing Inuyasha his serving. "I wonder what'll happen to the rest of them?"

 

"All Kagura wanted was her heart," said Miroku. "Now that he's gone, she'll get it back. I doubt we'll ever hear from her again."

 

"Kanna was still too closely connected to Naraku," continued Shippou. "And this time, she can't go to Kaguya…and I highly doubt there'd be another like her. Since they're dead, maybe she'll just vanish. If not, she really can't be much of a threat anymore, and if she is, we can destroy her, easy."

 

"Shippou finished off Hakudoshi for good, too," noted Sango. "He'll never be back, so no worries there. And Miroku sealed Entei as well, so no one will have to worry about him ever again, either."

 

Nobody voiced it, but they all glanced at Sango as they wondered what would happen to her little brother, Kohaku. Sango looked around, noticing this, and smiled sadly but bravely.

 

"I think I'll be fine if Kohaku dies now," she said softly. "He told me while we were facing off…he said he's rather die than continue serving Naraku, and his only wish was to see that Naraku died with him. We still need his jewel shard, after all…"

 

"Kohaku won't die."

 

Everyone turned to look at Inuyasha.

 

"Inuyasha?" asked Kagome, staring at him. He didn't answer, just sat there with his arms folded, looking thoughtful. He looked up at Sango.

 

"You say he was no longer under the influence of the jewel shard, right?" he asked. She nodded, and he continued, "Then he'll survive. If he no longer in influenced by it, and hasn't been for a while, that means his wounds have completely healed and the shard's powers are no longer necessary. He's no longer dependent on it for survival, which means that if we remove the shard now, he'll still live. I think Naraku was only threatening you with his death because he knew you'd believe it still…or he just hadn't realized that it was possible. The point is, your brother won't die, Sango. You don't have to worry about that."

 

Sango looked suddenly much happier, and she leaned forward in anticipation, her eyes bright and excited.

 

"Do you really think so, Inuyasha?" she asked hopefully.

 

Suddenly Kagome smacked her own arm, drawing everyone's attention to her. She lifted her hand and showed everyone what was on it.

 

"Myoga?" asked Shippou curiously.

 

Myoga unstuck himself from Kagome's palm and jumped onto her shoulder. He sat down and closed his eyes, nodding.

 

"Master Inuyasha is absolutely right," he said. "Sango has no need to worry about her brother any longer. Kohaku shall survive the removal of the shard now. Although I have to admit, I'm surprised Master Inuyasha was able to figure this out on his own."

 

Inuyasha's expression turned annoyed and angry as Shippou added, "Yeah, Inuyasha isn't usually this bright. He must've been thinking about it for a while now."

 

"Why you--get back here!" snapped Inuyasha, leaping up and chasing after the small demon. The others exchanged amused glances as the hanyou chased after Shippou, cursing and telling him to take back what he had said. After a couple minutes, Shippou was caught and bopped on the head, and everyone laughed. Then Shippou leapt from Inuyasha's hand into Kagome's lap, and Inuyasha sat down again.

 

Sango, on the other hand, stood up excitedly. "I'm going to go find Kohaku right now!" she exclaimed, motioning to Kirara. Miroku stood at a much slower pace and said he's accompany her, and Sango, too excited to really take notice or protest, rushed outside with the monk at her heels. Kagome and Inuyasha exchanged small smiles, and Kagome slid Shippou off her lap as she stood and stretched. She walked toward the doorway and slipped on her shoes.

 

"Kagome? Where're you going?" asked Inuyasha, making to stand up.

 

"Hmm? Oh, just to get in some practice," she said smoothly. "It's okay, you don't have to come along."

 

Feeling slightly hurt, he sat down again as she grabbed her weapons and left the hut. Kagome, once outside, glanced behind her to make sure Inuyasha wasn't following and headed, not for the area where she normally practiced her archery, but toward the shrine that rose above the rest of the village...the known burial ground of Kikyou.

 

* * *

 

Inuyasha and Shippou sat inside, finishing off breakfast. Afterwards, Shippou told the hanyou that he was going to explore the village. As he ran outside, Inuyasha shook his head, knowing that for Shippou, "exploring" meant looking for free food and pretty girls. Honestly, Miroku was a bad influence on the kid.

 

After Shippou left, Inuyasha went outside out of boredom. He had nothing to do now. Normally on days like this, he'd sit around and talk with Kagome, or they'd somehow end up having to fight one of Naraku's incarnations. But Naraku was dead now, and Kagome had left a while ago.

 

Now that he thought about it, where was she? Usually, she'd be by the river he was now standing by, aiming arrows at a certain point on a tree. But when he sniffed the air, he could smell that she hadn't even been there.

 

Where the heck would she…

 

He turned around to see if he could see her, and his gaze wandered to the shrine rising above Kaede's house. Last time he had stood there, he had believed Kikyou to Be gone once more…that had nearly cost Kagome's, Sango's, and Miroku's life that day, believing that she was dead again. He could still see the expression on Kagome's face when he had believed one of Kagura's corpses when he had been told that Kikyou had washed up on the riverside…he had been haunted with immense guilt when she had allowed him to go and search for her anyway.

 

How many times had he done that, hurt Kagome in order to be with Kikyou? He let out a soft "Keh." He had done it so many times; no one could even count anymore.

 

And yet, he knew Kagome still loved him…

 

He blinked as what he was seeing registered with him. He could see the shadow of someone at the shrine. Remembering Urasue, the witch that had reincarnated Kikyou, he immediately began to run toward the shrine. He leapt up the stairs easily and jumped for the intruder, but when he realized who it was he was so startled that all he could do was fall on her. The two of them landed with a huge crash, and Inuyasha pushed himself up immediately, seeing if he had hurt Kagome at all.

 

"Inuyasha, what the hell was that for?" she asked angrily, sitting up and rubbing her head.

 

"Sorry, I thought it was Urasue or someone again," he said, helping her up. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going to go and practice."

 

She said nothing and merely gazed at the small shrine, marking Kikyou's burial ground. Inuyasha gazed at her worriedly; she looked much sadder than he would've guessed earlier.

 

"Kagome?"

 

She glanced at him and forced a smile. "Sorry, Inuyasha, spaced out there for a moment," she offered. "Let's go."

 

As she tried to walk by him, he reached out and grabbed her by the arm. She struggled to escape his grasp but he didn't let go.

 

"Kagome, what's wrong?" he asked bluntly.

 

"Nothing!"

 

"Don't give me 'nothing'!" he snapped, forcing her to face him. "Why the hell were you up here, visiting her grave? Why do I sense sadness and fear from you, and why the hell can't you look me in the eye?!"

 

Kagome stilled and looked up at him, but as he had stated, she still couldn't quite meet his gaze. He loosened his grip on her, thinking he was scaring her, but he didn't let go.

 

"Kagome, tell me what's wrong," he said softly.

 

She sighed. "Nothing, Inuyasha," she said quietly. "I was just wondering…what we're going to do next."

 

He blinked. "What do you mean?"

 

She slipped her arm from his grip and walked toward the small shrine.

 

"It's almost over, Inuyasha," she said, kneeling down and bowing her head. "When I fuse the shards together, the Shikon no Tama will be whole once more. And then what?"

 

He stood stock-still, wondering what she meant.

 

"There won't be anything left here for us to do together. There…there won't be any need for me to stay here anymore."

 

Suddenly, Inuyasha understood. He widened his eyes as he watched her. Was she crying?

 

"Kagome…" He walked over to her slowly and knelt beside her. "You don't have to leave…"

 

She shook her head, trying to hide her now streaming tears from him, but she didn't say anything.

 

Damn it, why did she have to be crying? he thought. I hate it when she cries, I never know what to do.

 

He couldn't think of anything to say, so he just placed his hand on her shoulder in an awkward attempt to comfort her. She gave no sign that she noticed, but after a few moments she wiped away her tears and stood.

 

"We'd better get back," she said briskly, as though nothing had happened.

 

He watched her warily, then followed suit and stood. As she began the descent, he walked over to her and scooped her up in his arms, jumping the entire flught in one bound. She was startled at first but didn't do anything. When they landed at the bottom of the large flight, he held her for a moment longer, holding her a little tighter than was necessary.

 

"We'll figure out something, Kagome," he murmured, for her ears only. Then he released her and helped her to stand properly. She smoothed her clothes and walked inside the hut. Inuyasha stood for a moment, staring after her.

 

She was right. She needn't be here much longer. What if she went back…?

 

He shook his head and followed her inside. He didn't want to think about it. Not now, when they should all be celebrating.

 

The first thing he noticed was that Sango, Miroku, and Kirara were back…along with Kohaku. Kagome walked over to the boy and began to talk to him quietly.

 

"Kohaku…you remember everything now, right?" she asked softly.

 

He nodded. "I remember the night my father died…how I slew them…" he said quietly.

 

Kagome looked sympathetic. "Kohaku…I'm sorry, but we need your jewel shard. If there's any sign you absolutely need it, we'll return it…but there's no guarantee that you'll live through it."

 

He nodded. "Sister explained it all to me already," he said. "If I die, I don't care. So long as Naraku's dead, I don't care. Although I have to say, I won't be sad if I'm still alive, either."

 

Everyone had to crack a grin at that, but then, the air grew thick with tension again. Kagome swallowed and reached behind Kohaku, reaching for the jewel shard she knew was in his shoulder blade. Slowly, oh so slowly, she withdrew it, watching Kohaku carefully. He tensed slightly, but relaxed as the small shard slipped free of his body. Everyone watched closely as Kagome drew the shard to her, completely withdrawn.

 

"Kohaku…?"

 

Kohaku straightened, looking as though a huge weight had been taken off his shoulders. He stretched and cracked his neck.

 

"Wow, I feel great," he said in surprise. "I feel like hunting a demon right about now."

 

Everyone relaxed, and Sango, whose eyes had filled with tears, threw her arms around her little brother. He seemed surprised at first, but he tightened his arms around her nevertheless.

 

"C'mon, sis, I'm okay," he said, grinning at her. "You don't have to make a scene."

 

Kagome stood, looking happier than she had for a while now. Inuyasha stepped up behind her and, taking her by surprise, slipped his arm around her shoulder. He knew he was blushing, but still…seeing Sango reunited at last with her only surviving family member, it was a special moment. Kagome relaxed into him and smiled even more widely. For now, everything was right in the world.

 

Kagome felt that small stab of depression hit her again…

 

How long could this last?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Author's note:

Okay, the quality is crappy, I know. For some reason, I just can't hone in on my usual writing tonight. And the characters are acting nothing like they usually do… But still, I'm hoping this is going to turn out okay. I have it all planned out.

By the way, from now on, I will be inserting a little Japanese now and then. I will provide translations, so don't worry if you don't understand what's said.

I will try to get Chapter 2 up in the next few days…hopefully by Tuesday night.