InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ As Young Hearts Grow Older ❯ Discovery ( Chapter 3 )

As Young Hearts Grow Older

 

Chapter Three

 

Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever, own InuYasha.

 

Sango's brown eyes fluttered open from sleep. At first, she didn't move, only stared at the thatched roof of Kaede's hut. Quietly, she tossed off her blanket and sat up. Her eyes moved around the small hut by the light of the dying coals and came to rest in the empty corner.

 

Inuyasha had been sitting in that spot the night before. He must have left during the night when the rest of them had been sleeping, she surmised. Sango rubbed her sleep-weary eyes as she thought back to the previous evening.

 

She, Miroku, Shippou, and Kaede had been sitting around the small fire in the hut, enjoying a light dinner. Inuyasha sat away from the group in the corner. His golden eyes were closed sullenly and his Tetsusaiga rested against his knee.

 

“Inuyasha, do ye intend to eat with us?” Kaede asked.

 

“Keh,” was the only response he afforded the group as he flipped his silver hair over his shoulder, never bothering to open his eyes.

 

“Surely ye must be hungry after such a busy day,” Kaede prodded.

 

Inuyasha and the others had spent the day helping to build new huts for the ever-expanding village. It had been hard work and she was sure it made for a long day for all of them. Regularly, Inuyasha wouldn't be stopped from gulping down food faster than any one could set it in front of him. Something had to be disturbing him this evening.

 

“If I wanted food, I'd be eating it already,” he grumbled.

 

Sango and Miroku exchanged a knowing glance. For the past two years, Inuyasha had tried as hard as he possibly could to make them all think he didn't miss Kagome. In all actuality, he was only fooling himself. However, he was the only person that didn't seem to pick up on that little fact.

 

Sango and Miroku had frequently discussed ways that they might brooch the subject with the grumpy hanyou. Unfortunately, neither could think of a way that wouldn't send him angrily stalking off in the other direction. Inuyasha's temper seemed to have worsened since Kagome had gone back to her own time period. He was moodier than ever and rarely ever wanted to hear the rest of them talk about missing Kagome.

 

“You know,” Shippou declared louder than necessary, “if you weren't such a jerk, Kagome would be here right now eating with us!”

 

Miroku's blue eyes widened at Shippou's words. He wondered if the kit knew he was bringing the lone hanyou's wrath down upon him. Miroku decided to warn him. “Uh….Shippou, I'm not sure that now is the time for this conversation…”

 

“Miroku, you shut up,” Inuyasha growled. He opened his fury-filled eyes and turned them on Shippou. “You don't know anything, you little brat. And until you do, you'd better shut your stupid little mouth before I shut it for you.”

 

Shippou defiantly shut his green eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. “I'm not afraid of you.”

 

“Maybe you should be. Kagome isn't here to protect you now.”

 

“And that's your fault!” Shippou squealed at him.

 

Inuyasha's ears twitched. He wasn't sure whether he was more enraged with Shippou for being a smart ass or himself for driving Kagome away. A growl escaped from his throat as his eyes flashed and he glared daggers at the fox demon.

 

Sango chose this moment to step in. “Shippou, that's enough. I don't want to hear any more of this tonight. We've all had a very long day. It's time to settle in for the night.”

 

Shippou looked at Sango as though she had just stolen the wind from his sails. Disappointment played across his features and he pouted. Sango's eyes hardened for a moment at him. He noticed and dropped his gaze, nodding to agree with her, but still staying quiet.

 

Inuyasha let a small, mocking noise escape his lips. “Heh.”

 

Sango glared at him. “Let's all try to have a pleasant night, yes?”

 

Inuyasha closed his eyes again, resting his head against the wall. “Whatever.”

 

Miroku looked gratefully at Sango and she smiled. She knew he wasn't able to contend with their wild tempers as well as she could. Miroku usually just got pulled into the fight right along with them. Sango couldn't come to a conclusion as to whether their obedience to her commands stemmed from the fact that she was a female or because she was as close to a replacement of Kagome as any of them would ever find.

 

It hadn't been easy for her to become the only young woman in their lives. She was aware that she was the only young lady that Inuyasha would trust, Miroku's love interest, and a substitute mother figure for Shippou in Kagome's absence. Even though the pressure was immense, Sango wouldn't have traded it for the world. These three were her family now that hers was gone.

 

Since Kohaku's death, Sango found herself emptier than she had imagined possible. Miroku had been there for her, supporting her when she felt melancholy creeping in. Shippou did his best to help cheer her up and was beginning to feel like a little brother to her in his own way. Even Inuyasha had been patient and understanding. The only support she found herself missing was Kagome.

 

Kagome. Now there was a friend, Sango thought. She had kept their spirits high all through their battle with Naraku. Kagome was single-handedly responsible for keeping InuYasha in-line. Whenever Shippou and Inuyasha were at each other's throats, as they had been this night, Kagome was the one who was able to diffuse the situation leaving every one contented, if not amiable.

 

It was only natural that Kagome go back to her own time once they had defeated Naraku. Sango had expected it all along. Just because she had seen it coming, however, it wasn't easy to say goodbye. They had become such good friends that Sango felt as though she was losing a sister.

 

The rest of the night was filled with an uncomfortable silence that was as thick as fog. It seemed every one was much too tense, nervous, or irritated to speak. If it hadn't been so strained, they probably would have enjoyed the peace. In lieu of anything else to occupy them, they turned to sleep.

 

She had slept restlessly. Her dreams had been filled with visions of her lost family. She was relieved to be awake.

 

Sango slowly rose to her feet, making her way to the door of the hut. She crept by her sleeping comrades as softly as she could. She pushed the bamboo screen aside and stepped out of the hut. Day was already breaking.

 

She took a moment to look at the beautiful orange hues in the sky. Looking at the dawn sky often reminded her of the demon slayer village. She had spent many mornings watching the sun rise with her father after a long night of fighting.

 

Sango ran a hand through her brown hair. Her thoughts turned to Inuyasha. She pitied him sometimes, being unable to admit his own feelings to even himself. He must be feeling incredibly lonely since Kagome had gone home.

 

Her heart ached for him. She knew how it felt to be completely alone with no one to turn to. The fact that they were all alone was what brought them together in the first place. Kagome was in a strange time, Shippou's father had been slain, Miroku's father had fallen victim to the same curse that Miroku himself was now afflicted with, Inuyasha was betrayed by the woman he loved because of Naraku's trickery, and Sango herself had had her family savagely ripped away from her. It was their loneliness that had brought the motley crew together in the first place.

 

Sango's feet began to carry her towards the Goshinboku before she could even think about what she was doing. Her zori made gentle slapping sounds on the hard earth with every step she took. She was quite sure she couldn't assuage his grief, but she could at least make sure Inuyasha understood that she could be a friend to him.

 

Inuyasha heard her and smelled her before he even saw her. He didn't need to look down. He resisted the temptation to tell her to go away. He was curious about what might have her up so early in the morning.

 

“Inuyasha,” Sango said incredulously. She saw the familiar splash of his red clothing upon his usual branch. She knew he was there and she knew he was awake.

 

“What do you want?” Inuyasha asked brusquely.

 

“Well,” Sango began, trying hard not to sound as off-put as she was by his tone, “I just wanted to see if you were alright. You left during the middle of the night.”

 

“Keh.”

 

Sango fingered one of the sleeves of her pink Kimono. She wasn't sure how to go about this after all. “Inuyasha, I know you don't want to talk to us about how you feel, but I think you might feel better if-“

 

He cut off her thought by jumping down right in front of her. Startled, she took a few steps back, giving him more space to stand. Inuyasha leaned his back casually against the God tree. He paused for a moment before he begrudgingly spoke.

 

“Listen, woman, I don't need your sympathy. And I don't need a shoulder to cry on. I appreciate what you're trying to do, but it ain't gonna work.”

 

Sango's face twisted to anger. Her brown eyes burned. “You know, Shippou was right. It's hardly fair that you spend your time in a foul mood over something you could have prevented.”

 

Inuyasha seemed to ignore her last statement. His face was full of questions and he stared at the sky. He could think of no better way to go about asking what he wanted to, so he simply changed the subject as quickly as it had begun. “Sango?” he asked.

 

“Yes?” she responded.

 

Inuyasha brought his eyes back to Sango's face. They were filled with a new determination which confused Sango. “What do you give a girl for a present?”

 

Sango's eyes widened in shock. Was I wrong this whole time? Has he been thinking of some one else? Or worse, is he in love with some one else?! Sango tried to remove any emotion from her voice as she spoke. “Well…I'm not sure…are you interested in some one new?”

 

Inuyasha scoffed. “I don't think that's any of your business, but no! I'm not!”

 

Sango's eyes betrayed her disbelief, but she didn't want to fight with the hanyou. “Well, I suppose you start by giving her flowers. If that goes well, then I guess you give a hair comb or jewelry, something like that. I don't know. I've never really gotten any gifts.”

 

Inuyasha nodded and then bounded off with purpose. Sango watched him disappear into the forest. What he had asked her had sent her mind spinning with an abundance of questions.

 

Just what did he mean by that, I wonder…Does he have a new love interest?

 

Sango sighed to herself and shook her head. It seemed that Inuyasha was destined to fall in love more than twice. She turned on her heels and started back to Kaede's hut. She would have to discuss this with Miroku.

 

oOo

 

Kagome rolled over, just barely cracking her brown eyes open. When they came to rest on her alarm clock, they flew open. “Oh no! I'm late for school!” she shrieked.

 

She bolted off of her bed in a panic. Kagome hated being late more than anything. She rushed to toss off her pajamas and wiggle into her school uniform. “This is going to be an awful day!” she said to herself.

 

She reached for her bag only to find that it wasn't in its usual place. She began to tear apart her bedroom looking for it. She looked under her desk, her bed, and in her closet. She slapped a hand to her forehead in frustration before throwing open her door.

 

Kagome ran down the stairs toward the kitchen. “Mom, do you know where my school bag is?” she asked desperately.

 

Mrs. Higurashi smiled broadly and wiped her hands on a dish towel, turning away from the sink at which she stood. “Good morning, dear! Why don't you have some breakfast?”

 

“I can't, mama! I'm late for school!” Kagome said as she flitted around the kitchen, looking for her school bag.

 

Mrs. Higurashi put her hands on her daughter's shoulders, stopping her manic search. “Relax, dear! I called you in sick today. You could use a break and I wanted you to get some sleep. Calm down!”

 

Kagome sighed. She really should have seen this coming. “Mama, you know you didn't have to do that. I could have gone to school.”

 

Mrs. Higurashi laughed at her daughter's comment. “You know, Kagome, most kids would be dying to get a day away from school! You should appreciate it while you can and just enjoy your day. It's the first day in a long time that you'll have to relax and recuperate. Besides, if you didn't get some rest, you were just going to make yourself sick anyways. Consider it preventative medicine.”

 

“I suppose you're right,” Kagome said, beginning to see the bright side of her situation. “It will be nice to have a day to myself. I could actually catch up on some reading!”

 

“There you go, dear! Now sit down and have some breakfast. Then you can go change into something a little more comfortable. Just relax today.”

 

Kagome gave her mother a bright smile. Taking her seat at the table as her mother indicated, she sipped demurely at a glass of orange juice that had been waiting for her. Mrs. Higurashi brought her a plate of pancakes and a small bottle of maple syrup. Kagome's eyes lit up as she saw the special breakfast. She loved her mother's pancakes. They were one of her favorite things and her mother knew it.

 

“Wow! You must have been really worried about me, huh?” Kagome said lightly.

 

“Of course I was, dear! You're my baby girl.”

 

Kagome gave her mother her best look of reassurance. “I'm fine, Mama. Just a little tired, like you said. I'll be alright. I'll spend today resting and I'll be back to my old self before you know it!”

 

Her mother smiled. “I'm sure of it, darling.”

 

With that, Kagome began eating her breakfast. She made sure to eat quickly to avoid further questioning and to get started with her day of relaxation. It had been a long time since she'd had a day to do whatever she wanted. First, she was too busy saving the past. Then, she was too busy trying to catch up in school. For a “carefree teenager,” as her grandfather would say, she sure did have a lot do to!

 

As soon as she finished, her mother took her dishes to the sink. Kagome stood up and headed upstairs. As she reached her room, she found herself all too glad to be able to wear something other than her school uniform. It seemed she spent all together too much time in it.

 

Kagome slipped out of her school uniform and folded it. She set it on her bed, which it seemed some one had made for her while she wasn't paying attention. Her mother was always too eager to clean something, she thought. Kagome looked at her uniform.

 

The forest green skirt and white shirt with its green collar and red scarf seemed pristine. Kagome wondered how many of these uniforms her mother had had to purchase for her. She had destroyed so many in the Feudal Era. She thought about how much money she had cost her mother over the years and suddenly felt very guilty.

 

Her family had never been wealthy. In fact, most of the time, they just barely got by on what little money they had. Her mother had become a thrifty shopper and always knew how to stretch a dime to its fullest. However, despite the fact that they couldn't always afford to get what they wanted, they had always had what they needed and they had always been happy.

 

Kagome was grateful that the shrine had been bringing in more money lately. They were finally starting to get more money. More tourists than usual for this time of year seemed to be flocking to it. She was curious as to what it was that her grandfather had told them to keep them all so interested, but decided that, in the end, she probably didn't want to know.

 

She walked to her closet and stood before the open doors. She wasn't sure what she wanted to wear, but she wanted it to be comfortable. She was positive that she sought something light, so no jeans or sweaters. Kagome found a light sundress that she hadn't worn in a while. She decided that it would suit her nicely, considering the weather.

 

It was a warm and sunny day. Kagome loved the spring. The cherry blossom trees were in full bloom and she loved to sit under them. She pulled her dress over her head, deciding that her day would be best spent sitting under the sacred tree and reading her book. From there, she would have a lovely view of the cherry blossoms.

 

As soon as she was dressed, Kagome closed her closet door and grabbed a romance novel off her desk. She was determined to enjoy herself today, if simply to prove to herself that she still could. She bounded down the stairs and headed to the front door. Her yellow sundress swayed flatteringly on the way down.

 

“Mama,” she called. “I'm going to go sit outside and read, okay?”

 

“That's fine, Kagome. Have a good time!”

 

Kagome nodded even though she knew her mother wasn't there to see it. She stepped to the door and put on a pair of sandals. She slid the door open and stepped outside into the bright warmth.

 

The mid-morning sun put a smile on Kagome's face. She hadn't been able to enjoy the weather lately. It seemed as though she was always inside with her head buried deep in a school book. She didn't realize how much she missed being outdoors until just now.

 

She breathed deeply. The air wasn't as clean as it had been in the Feudal Era, but it was refreshing just the same. The floral scent of the cherry blossoms filled her and lifted her heart. She closed her eyes and savored the moment before walking to the Goshinboku.

 

Kagome stood before the tree and looked up at it. She wondered why it was that she always felt better around it. Deep down, she knew it was one of the few things that she had left to connect her to Inuyasha.

 

She thought back to the night before. He had been standing in the very spot she stood in now. She looked at the ground, seeking some kind of clue that he had really been there. She just needed some proof that she wasn't crazy.

 

Her eyes swung up to land on the well house. She strode over to the door, which had been shut sometime while she was asleep. Her grandfather must have been cleaning the grounds before she awoke.

 

Before she even realized what she was doing, she was reaching out and opening the door. It slid on its track and stopped with a thud. The inside was dark as usual and Kagome wished that they had installed a light in the old well house.

 

She took a careful step inside. She wasn't sure what it was that she was looking for, but she had to at least take a look around. She had to have some kind of confirmation or denial, just to rest her mind.

 

Kagome sneezed loudly, the sound startling even her. “Goodness! It's gotten awfully dusty in here…Guess Jiichan hasn't been cleaning in here anymore.”

 

She looked at the dust covered floor and her heart skipped a beat. She knelt down to better examine the evidence on the stairs, to make sure her eyes weren't deceiving her. She saw them as clearly as day in the light that spilled in behind her.

 

Footprints in the dust…