InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ As Young Hearts Grow Older ❯ Appearance ( Chapter 5 )

As Young Hearts Grow Older

 

Chapter Five

 

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, but this idea is mine.

 

Kagome scrubbed clean the last of the dinner dishes. She stacked them neatly in the dish drainer to the left of the sink, sure that she had done a job almost as good as her mother's. She wiped her wet hands on a nearby dishtowel.

 

Her afternoon had been so relaxing. She had managed to finish her book and get a little color to her pale skin. In the two years that she had been back, she had never managed to attain a tan as nice as the one she'd had back in the Feudal Era.

 

Her mother had called her in just as she had finished the last line in her novel. Dinner had been prepared and her mother had made sure that it was one of her favorites. Mrs. Higurashi had always doted on her when she had felt something was wrong.

 

Sota had shared his tales of the school day with them during dinner. Kagome had a hard time believing he was growing up. She still remembered when he was just a baby. She almost didn't want him to get any bigger, preserving him as the child who admired her.

 

Sota had taken it particularly hard when Kagome had come back to her own time without a certain half-demon. She had felt almost as bad for him as she had for herself. She didn't know when or how, but somehow Sota had grown particularly attached to Inuyasha. He had even asked the hanyou for advice about women.

 

Kagome laughed to herself when she thought back to that. As if Inuyasha would know what to say to any girl, let alone a girl from the modern era! He had the right idea about being honest and true to one's heart, but he was certainly not the premier person to go to for advice. Kagome mused that she would rather ask Miroku for advice than Inuyasha. At least Miroku had experience.

 

She set the dishtowel back on the countertop after folding it carefully. Her grandfather had told them all at dinner that he had a surprise for every one. She was excited to find out what it was, but she didn't let her hopes get too high. Knowing Jiichan, it was apt to be as boring as it could be exciting. He had a bad habit of choosing things that most people couldn't care less about simply because they interested him.

 

Kagome made her way to the living room where the rest of her family was relaxing. Sota lay on the floor watching the television. Mrs. Higurashi and Jiichan sat together on the sofa, chatting about nothing in particular. All of them turned their attention toward Kagome as she walked into the room.

 

“So,” Kagome asked, “what's the big surprise?”

 

“Well,” Jiichan began, looking nonchalant, “I felt we needed some pleasure around here. And spring is just the right time for fireworks. So I bought a few things and I thought we might spend an evening outside.”

 

“Alright!” Sota exclaimed. He jumped up from his place on the floor, ready to get started.

 

Mrs. Higurashi laughed briefly at her son. “That was nice of you, Father.”

 

Jiichan nodded, brushing off the compliment. “Sota, go fill a bucket of water and meet us outside. Your mother and I will go get the fireworks out of the shed.” He turned his attention to Kagome. “You might want to change clothes, Kagome. It's supposed to be a rather chilly evening.”

 

Kagome smiled at her grandfather. “I'm sure I'll be fine in this. I'll just run upstairs and get a sweater.”

 

Without waiting for a response, Kagome turned and headed for the stairs. “I'll be right down!” she called.

 

She hopped briskly up the stairs, smiling. It turned out that Jiichan had a delightful surprise after all. She loved fireworks. She had even brought some back to the Feudal Era to share with her friends.

 

She recalled the looks on their faces as she lit the first sparkler. They had all seemed stunned and enchanted. It was like watching children. She couldn't help but laugh at them, which had set them all to laughing. It had been a wonderful night for their little group.

 

Kagome's heart ached. She missed her friends and missed sharing experiences with them. She had known that she would have to come back to her own time at some point, but she had hoped to at least be able to visit them.

 

She grabbed a light blue cardigan out of her closet and slid it over her shoulders. She didn't think she was going to get cold, but she didn't mind appeasing her grandfather from time to time. She knew he only had the best of intentions for her.

 

She glanced in the mirror next to her closet. Her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, bangs fluffed attractively on her forehead. Her yellow dress and blue cardigan matched well, making her look more mature than she was. She nodded at her reflection in approval and made her way back down the stairs.

 

The rest of her family had already gone outside. She was the lone straggler in the group. Kagome contemplated if any of them had bothered to get a lighter or matches, but, knowing her mother, she was certain they were prepared. She walked leisurely to the back door, sliding it open quietly and slipping once more into her sandals.

 

Sota waved happily to his sister. “C'mon Kagome! Hurry up!”

 

Kagome's face erupted into a large grin as she hurried over to her brother. Her grandfather had set up a few different types of fireworks, waiting only to be told to light them. Mrs. Higurashi handed Kagome a sparkler. She lit a match and Kagome and Sota lit their sparklers at the same time, laughing playfully at each other.

 

Once her sparkler had fizzled out, Kagome looked up at the heavens. There was a half moon hanging low in the east. She was unable to make out any stars in the Tokyo sky.

 

That was another thing she fervently missed about the past. She had always been able to see a host of stars every time she looked up. It had been so wonderful to sit in the dark with her head on Inuyasha's shoulder and stare up at the bright pinpoints.

 

Kagome shook her head, trying hard not to think of the hanyou. This was her night, she affirmed. There was no reason to bring it to a melancholy close by thinking of days long gone.

 

Her grandfather lit off the first firework. It lit the sky with purple, green, and yellow bursts before sputtering out. Mrs. Higurashi had moved to stand next to Sota, her arms around his shoulders. It never stopped amazing Kagome how fast he was shooting up. Before she knew it, he would be all grown up.

 

Kagome picked up the bucket of water, bringing it to her grandfather. He tossed the cardboard of the first set of fireworks into it. It hissed as the heat met the cold of the water. She stepped back, holding the bucket at her stomach and looked at her mother and brother.

 

Kagome watched the two of them, a smile on her face. It was wonderful to be able to make up for the time she lost with them. Jiichan lit off the second arrangement of fireworks. These burned bright blue, red, and pink. As the last few sparks fell to the ground, something strange filled the air.

 

She felt a sizzle of familiar energy nearby. She would have recognized it almost anywhere. Her feet were frozen to the ground in their place. Her eyes fixed on the door to the well house.

 

“Inuyasha,” she whispered.

 

oOo

 

Inuyasha stared at the setting sun. His stomach turned over on itself and his nerves felt like they were being lit on fire. His fear of rejection gripped at him. He took a shaky breath, trying to calm himself.

 

Kaede walked up behind him, handing him a ribbon. “The ribbon ye asked for, Inuyasha. May I ask why ye require it?”

 

Inuyasha's head flew in the direction of the short priestess to his right. He was snapped out of his reverie. “I'm not sure yet. I'll let you know if I ever figure it out.”

 

Kaede's face clouded over. “Inuyasha, if ye are thinking of another, be careful about whom ye tell.”

 

Inuyasha scoffed. “What's all this about me being with another woman? Why does every one think they can give me advice all of the sudden? Since when is it any business of yours?”

 

Kaede turned to leave. “Many of us rely on ye, Inuyasha. Consider that before ye run headlong into something ye cannot take back.”

 

With that, the elderly woman walked back to her hut. It wasn't long before Inuyasha heard more footsteps approaching. He wasn't in the mood for more words of counsel. He had just about all he could handle on his own, without having to worry about what the rest of them were thinking.

 

He leapt deftly to the branches of a nearby tree. Sango and Miroku walked by, hand in hand. The pair had grown close during their quest to slay Naraku. Now that things had settled down, they were engaged to be married. Inuyasha would never admit it, but he envied their relationship.

 

His ears perked at the mention of his own name in the conversation below. “I know, Miroku. I just…I guess I don't want him to give up on the idea of being with Kagome. I know how much she cared for him. She would be heartbroken if she knew that he was moving on.”

 

Miroku stopped Sango, placing a loving hand on her shoulder. “Sango, it is none of our business what Inuyasha chooses to do and who he chooses to do it with. He is our friend, we should be happy for him if he's moved on.”

 

Sango reluctantly nodded. “I just don't want him to have regrets.”

 

“Too late for that,” Inuyasha muttered to himself.

 

Miroku smiled. “Sango, my dear, it doesn't matter. Any man that lives his life without regret has missed an opportunity to learn and grow. Sometimes, that's how we come to be good people, through our mistakes.”

 

Sango kissed Miroku's cheek. “You're right. I just don't like to see my friends suffer.”

 

“That's what I love about you. Your big heart,” he said.

 

Miroku pulled Sango into his arms, kissing her gently. Sango's arms encircled the monk's waist as she kissed him back. They broke, Sango placing her head on his chest.

 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and took off in the direction of the Goshinboku. He didn't have time to sit around and watch those two make out. He had to get the lilies he had picked for Kagome before it got too dark. With the ribbon that Kaede had given him, he would tie them into a bundle, a bouquet for her.

 

He had left the three dozen or so buds nestled in a pile on his favorite perch. He landed a few steps away from them, crouching down. Carefully, he arranged them and tied them together with the ribbon. He used the Tetsusaiga to cut the stems to matching lengths.

 

He held the bunch of flowers away from his face. They were almost perfect. He wished there was more he could offer her, but he prayed that these would be enough. He didn't have anything else to give her except himself.

 

Inuyasha ran a shaky hand through his hair. He was as ready as he would ever be to go to her. He couldn't be patient for another moment. He had to see her before he lost his nerve.

 

He jumped down from the Goshinboku, landing silently on the ground. He took off at a run in the direction of the Bone Eater's Well. His silver hair flew behind him, the strands shining in the light of the rising moon.

 

His pace slowed as he entered the clearing that housed the well. He thought back to all the times that he had gone through the well in search of Kagome, all the times he had gone to apologize to her. This well had seen a lot of their troubles, he sighed. This time wasn't all that different.

 

Inuyasha positioned himself on the edge and took a deep breath. It was now or never, he told himself. Before he could think of an argument, he jumped inside the well.

 

oOo

 

“See,” Miroku said gaily, “I told you!”

 

Sango couldn't wipe the smile off of her face. “I can't believe it! I wonder what finally changed his mind.”

 

Miroku shrugged. “I suppose we may never know. As long as they end up together, I'll be happy for them.”

 

Sango nodded furiously. She let out a squeak of pleasure and clapped her hands. For once, she was glad she had been wrong about what she assumed was going on. She was giddy with delight at her error.

 

Miroku's face became serious. “I don't think we should tell Kaede or Shippou about all of this just yet. Just in case things don't go well, I don't want them to be disappointed. Besides, if he comes back with her, they'll both have a pleasant surprise.”

 

“You're right. Do you think we should wait and see what happens? Or should we go back?”

 

“Well…It couldn't hurt to wait.”

 

Sango smiled. She couldn't contain herself. She had to see what happened! She longed to see her friend again. She had so many things to tell Kagome. She was sure Kagome had much to share with her as well.

 

Miroku put his arm around Sango's shoulders. He didn't want her to be unhappy if Inuyasha came back alone, but he couldn't keep this secret from her any longer. He knew how much his love had missed her friend. He supposed that if any one should know about this most recent development, it should be Sango.

 

They turned their attention to the well and settled in to wait.

 

oOo

 

Weightlessness surrounded Inuyasha once again. He closed his eyes, willing the butterflies in his stomach to stop doing summersaults. When he felt ground beneath his feet, he opened his eyes again. He saw the fading blue around him in the darkness of the well house.

 

He quickly climbed out of the well. He adjusted his clothing, brushing off any dirt that might now be on him. He took a last look at the flowers, making sure they still looked as beautiful as when he had picked them.

 

He climbed the stairs, making no effort to be silent or stealthy. He could smell gun powder in the air, a smell which reminded him of the fireworks Kagome had shown him. He heard the popping noise of another one being fired off nearby.

 

Inuyasha paused for a moment at the door of the well house. He could smell Kagome. He had missed that smell for two long years. He inhaled deeply. He couldn't wait any longer to see her. He slid the door open loudly and stepped into the night air.

 

There she was. She was standing right in front of him, holding a bucket of water and looking right at him. She looked mature and beautiful. The yellow dress she wore came to her knees and she wore a baby blue sweater over that. Her hair had been swept into a loose ponytail. Sandals adorned her dainty feet. He almost couldn't believe how little she had changed.

 

“Kagome,” he whispered to himself.

 

“Inuyasha!” she shouted.