InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ An Unforeseen Flame ❯ Kaede's Advice ( Chapter 12 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A/N: Hope you like!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters, nor could I ever hope to be as genius as Rumiko Takahashi.

As the blazing orange sun began to sink low in the sky, Kagome felt a little disappointed that her first of only three short days with her friends was coming to a close. She had spent her day catching up with Sango, Miroku and Shippo and helping them with daily mundane tasks and chores.

After spending some alone time underneath the ancient God Tree recovering from her argument with Inuyasha, Kagome had returned to the village in a more peaceful state of mind. She spent the rest of her morning by the river with Sango, washing laundry as Shippo frolicked merrily in the water nearby. She had finally been able to engage in a confidential conversation with Sango, after such a long time wishing for her friend. Her mind wandered back to their conversation.

"He actually asked you if you were happy with him?" Sango had asked dumbfounded. Kagome had nodded, biting her lip, starting to feel a bit embarrassed.

"He also brushed away one of my tears, at least, I think he did. That night's sort of hazy now. It almost feels like a dream," Kagome had replied, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink.

"Are you sure it wasn't?" Sango asked, her brown eyes wide in disbelief. "I don't mean to rude, but that's definitely not the Sesshomaru I know."

"Well that was nothing compared to the incredibly embarrassing conversation we had on the way here," Kagome replied chuckling nervously as she busied herself, scrubbing at a stubborn stain.

"Wait, are you saying he walked you here?" Sango exclaimed completely taken aback. She really couldn't believe her ears.

"That's not even the half of it," Kagome had continued, still feeling a bit shy. "He started asking me all these personal questions like if I still loved Inuyasha and then he asked me how I felt about him. It was pretty bizarre."

"Well how do you feel about him?" Sango asked, curiosity overwhelming her. Kagome flushed a deep shade of red. "Oh no, Kagome, you don't actually…like him, do you?"

"Well, I don't know, really," Kagome squeaked meekly unable to look Sango directly in the eyes. "He's so different from how I used to think he was. He's so good with Rin, always so worried about keeping her happy and safe. It's kind of endearing."

"Kagome!" Sango gasped in scandalized shock. "You do like him! I hate to sound like I'm not happy for you, but I hope you're not actually expecting anything from him. You'll end up more disappointed and heartbroken than you have been with Inuyasha. Sesshomaru hates humans. I don't understand why he keeps the little girl around, but I'm betting you're only around for her. He's probably only being nice for her benefit."

"Yeah, you're probably right," Kagome mumbled glumly. "I wasn't expecting anything anyway. I already knew how crazy it sounds."

"Well it sounds like he's giving you reasons to feel the way you do, but it's probably not intentional," Sango replied matter-of-factly. "Most demons don't understand human emotions very well. I'm sorry Kagome; I'm only saying this because I care about you. I'm not trying to hurt your feelings."

Kagome had known Sango would feel this way, but it felt nice just talking about it to someone. Sango was probably right anyway, but for some reason she still felt incredibly disappointed. She was relieved when Shippo accidentally splashed them and interrupted their conversation.

Surprised by the chilly water, Kagome let out a squeak then cracked a devilish grin. She cupped her hands and scooped some of the freezing water into them and splashed both Shippo and Sango, soaking them both. They had wasted the rest of the morning playing in the water and soaking each other thoroughly with freezing river water all while giggling like schoolgirls before they ran to dry off and warm their shivering bodies by the fire in Kaede's hut.

Her afternoon, which she had been hoping to spend peacefully, had been spent with Miroku, at his request. It was a request Kagome found she was initially suspicious of, given the monk's lecherous habits. As it turned out, he had been very curious about Sesshomaru and her travels with him. It quickly became quite clear that he had either been talking to Inuyasha or at least had the same line of thought as the hanyou.

He had been very inquisitive about the Demon Lord and his habits. Eventually Kagome had become so frustrated and annoyed that she had snapped at him and stalked off in annoyance. The monk, realizing he had been pushing buttons he should've let be, had been smart enough to leave her alone about Sesshomaru after that.

She probably should have had more patience with him, but her argument with Inuyasha that morning had left her sore about the subject. He probably didn't realize that his prodding would elicit such a response from her; after all, Sango was the only one who truly knew her feelings about the Demon Lord and her situation with him. It was natural for him, as her friend, to worry about her.

She hadn't seen Inuyasha at all after their fight, but she didn't mind terribly. She was still upset with him for his behavior that morning. Instead she spent the rest of her afternoon with Shippo. They decided to go pick herbs in the woods for Lady Kaede. The fox kit had babbled incessantly, so happy to see his friend again. After awhile of talking about everything he had done while she was gone, Shippo's face had fallen.

"So, you're really not going to stay with us?" Shippo asked, pouting cutely.

"I'm sorry, Shippo, but I can't. Sesshomaru would be upset if I didn't go back to take care of Rin. Anyway, you're eleven now. You're almost a man now. You don't need me to take care of you anymore," Kagome had replied soothingly. The kit had grown taller and his face was starting to change, his features becoming a little more grown up.

"Yeah, but I still miss you. Maybe when I'm grown up, I'll be strong enough to rescue you from Sesshomaru, and then you could come back with us," he exclaimed exuberantly. Kagome chuckled patting the kitsune on the head good-naturedly.

"You won't need to do that, Shippo," she laughed, her eyes gleaming happily. "Once Naraku is defeated and the Shikon jewel is whole again, I'll make my wish and go home. I'll be normal again, and you will get to grow up and find a girl and take care of her."

"You mean you'll never come back again after all that?" he queried, his eyes starting to fill with tears.

"I really don't know Shippo. I don't really know how it all works, but whatever happens, we will always be friends," she had added. This seemed to pacify the kitsune a little, but Kagome could tell he was glum now. He didn't want her to leave him, now or ever.

Now she sat alone, leaning back on her arms, the long grass beneath her legs tickling her delicate skin as she admired the beauty of the rosy sunset. Everyone else seemed to have some sort of chore to attend to, or they were just avoiding her so they were free to talk amongst themselves about her new situation. It really didn't matter to her. Behind her, she heard the soft rustle of clothing and lazily looked back behind her to see who had decided to accompany her.

"Hello Kaede," she greeted the old priestess warmly with a smile.

"Good evening, young Kagome. Mayhap ye would consent to aiding this old woman in preparing dinner for tonight? I do not wish to attend to the task alone," the old woman explained.

"Sure," she replied beaming broadly and rising to her feet. Kagome had always enjoyed cooking. It was a relaxing activity, and she was sure it would keep her mind off of the behavior her friends were displaying due to her situation.

The two women prepared the meal in silence, Kagome chopping vegetables carefully and Kaede stirring the stew she was concocting occasionally. It was monotonous work, but it kept the younger priestess's mind occupied. The elder priestess sighed slightly as she stirred. It seemed she also had something to say to Kagome.

"Kagome, child, yon Inuyasha," she began, pointing outside of the quaint hut, "has been quite worried over ye. Perhaps ye should forgive him and make amends. After all, he cannot help himself."

"Right now I think he feels I'm the one who should be on the receiving end of the forgiving," she replied, annoyed with the unwanted advice. She had forgotten how nosy her friends could be. "Traipsing around the Feudal Era with his half-brother and sworn enemy doesn't sit well with him. He seems to think I am foolish for trusting Sesshomaru."

"I know not what has transpired between yon Demon Lord and ye, but Inuyasha does have a point. His interest in ye is sudden, and I like it not. Still, methinks ye should trust your own judgement," Kaede admitted sagely. "If ye see no harm in traversing with him, then do so. But do not forget your responsibilities. It was ye who shattered the jewel, and ye are the only one who can repair it. It is natural to be angry with Inuyasha for his indecision, but do not lose sight of what is important."

'What truly is important?' Kagome wanted to ask, but she bit her tongue lest she sound foolish. She wished she knew. Yes, defeating Naraku and completing the jewel were both important, but didn't her feelings matter too? No one could expect her to want to stay around a jerk like Inuyasha for too long. The guy couldn't even decide who he wanted to be with, constantly squabbling with Koga over her and subjecting to her to all his jealous tirades one minute and then running off to Kikyo's rescue the next. After three years of constant indecision, she had had enough. She sighed in exasperation. Why did everything in life have to be so difficult?

"It is not my intention to exasperate ye. I only wished to remind ye of the duties ye must attend to. It is merely this old woman's wish to see an end to the suffering both Naraku and the Shikon No Tama have wrought before my short time in this world comes to an end."

Kagome smiled warmly at the old woman. She was so selfless and wise; everything a priestess ought to be. It was no surprise that she was loved so well by the villagers.

"I think that I will be more focused if I continue my travels with Sesshomaru. He wants Naraku dead as much as we do, and he is less of a distraction for me than Inuyasha. Inuyasha is detrimental to my duties, because I have feelings for him. I'm sure you understand what I mean, Lady Kaede."

"Aye, child, I do." she replied. Kagome studied the wrinkles in the old woman's wizened face for a moment and found understanding reflected in every line of her face. "I am sure ye will do what is best."

They left their conversation at that and finished cooking the stew, which was now emitting a savory aroma that was making Kagome's stomach growl, in silence. Somehow Kagome felt more at peace with herself and her situation. Her friends had the right to worry for her, after all, what kind of friends would they be if they didn't? But, as Kaede said, she should trust her own judgment. Ultimately, who knew the situation better than she did? They had not experienced the things that she had. All they knew was what they had seen from Sesshomaru, and such things were surely not a comfort to them. If they could not accept her decision, so be it. Kagome was going to do what she felt was right. Not just for everyone else, but for herself as well. She was so tired of being so self-sacrificing. For once, she was going to do something to make herself happy.