InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Betrayal's Gift ❯ Chapter 35

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

By: ldymoon

Kagome crawled out of the bed that she shared with Miroku. Both of them had had a hard battle with the courts and finally won. Though they felt sorry for the boy's family, they couldn't feel sympathy for him. And the girl Fuu made her appearance in the courtroom and wound up causing a scene. Using the glass of water that was given her she broke it to make glass shards to cut her throat after she made it clear that she hated Hotaru, and that Hotaru deserved everything she got because Hotaru was a demon serpent who was out to destroy them all.

Leaving the courtroom the paparazzi was all over Kagome, Miroku and Sota asking inappropriate questions and wondering the whereabouts of the demon spawn priestess now. They were all over the tabloids and Hotaru's video taped rape was selling on the internet for all kinds of money. Even the shrine has been in chaos since the trail. Paparazzi everywhere trying to take pictures until Miroku went out there and started claiming he was going to put curses on them if they continued to bother his family. He went into prayer formation and threw out a couple of sutras toward the camera men and they ran. However, his picture was then put on the paper saying that he is the demon's fathers.

Eventually things seemed to have quieted down and everyone seemed to move on to the next big thing, even the tourism for the shrine seemed to be getting back to normal. Kagome finally had a night to sleep quietly, but that wasn't to be because she woke up with a disturbing dream, a dream about Inuyasha.

She donned on a robe for now morning was going to welcome them in a few hours. She stole down the stairs and ventured into the kitchen. She put a pot of tea to brew and thought about the dream. It was weird; it was like something was telling her she needed to go back to the feudal era. She saw herself as a young woman in the arms of the person she loved, like she had a chance to do it all over again.

It was more like a feeling, a feeling of something big happening and in fact even though she was awake she couldn't seem to shake the feeling. Sipping the hot tea she decided to go for a walk to clear her mind of the nagging feeling of missing something important. The cool crisp air woke her up completely as she stole across the court yard to the well house. Putting the tea cup down she picked up the ladder and placed it in the well and then sat on the ledge. Closing her eyes she jumped in and felt the waves of time passing over her until her feet touched the bottom.

She could feel that winter time over here was almost ending. That it was to be spring soon. She climbed up and sat on the ledge just remembering how she used to feel coming to this era. She wondered how much things have changed since she'd been gone. She wondered what her daughter was doing now and as if someone whispered to her she turned her head and saw a purplish light. Fear made Kagome's legs run in the direction of the light knowing it was her daughters.

Fearful that she was in trouble she ran pushing shrubbery out of her way. She remembered that she was running toward the sacred tree. When she finally reached it it was to find a sight that she had never before witnessed, a sight that she wished she never saw. The tree was in full bloom out of its season and there they were her daughter sitting astride the man she loved a long time ago and she saw them rise up off the ground Hotaru's and Inuyasha's ki swirling together the flowers and the fresh scent of spring hitting her nostrils, soon she watched as the two continued to ascend into the air like two mythical creatures and she heard him, she heard him say the words he's never once said to her.

“Hotaru…I love you.”

Than she saw him sink his teeth into her daughter marking her forever his as her daughters' scream permeated the air in a thick blanket, than all of a sudden she shielded her eyes for the light was too intense and she felt it, their passion, desires, promises flow threw her and everything that seemed to be surrounding her. The feeling was so strong that it made her cry. A part of Kagome envied her daughter at this moment.

Flashbacks of her days with Inuyasha flowed through her mind as she heard a voice in her head speaking.

`You let him go, you had sex with another, you betrayed him, you are unworthy of Inuyasha. It is only natural that he return your betrayal with vengeance.'

Kagome's eyes were wide with tears as she watched them descend to the ground. Her heart was heavy as she watched the gentle way Inuyasha cradled Hotaru and lay her daughters' body on the grass beneath them. She could visibly see the power radiating off her daughter's body and the gentle hum of Inuyasha's ki as he watched the sleeping onyx hair beauty beside him.

Kagome wanted to run but her legs couldn't move. Soon she saw visions of her daughter having his children, children that should have been hers, she saw Hotaru living a life that should have been hers and she felt envy.

`That's right, your daughter has the very thing you still cherish, this is your punishment for what you have done to Inuyasha.'

In a very small whisper barely audible to the naked ear she said.

“Inuyasha she belongs to you, she was meant for you, Inuyasha…our child…is yours…forgive me, forgive us, for that will be the only way you can save her.”

Remembering her nightmares she turned and ran, for now she absolutely knew without a doubt in her mind that the things she has seen will come to be, and she knew what she had to do and now her battle was beginning the hardest battle she is yet to fight, the battle of her own emotions.

She ran to the well and hurriedly jumped in with tears blinding her eyes. It still hurt like hell the worst pain she's ever felt before in her life. Even when he chased after Kikyo all those years ago it still didn't feel like this. She still felt envy for her daughter and regret so deep that it burned in her throat like acid. Sitting at the bottom of the well in her own time she cried until she felt numb.

Climbing up out of the well she decided to go back to the house. Once inside Kagome climbed up the stairs to the bedrooms and watched Miroku sleep from her doorway.

`How can I? How can I fight when I…when I feel so much pain…Miroku…I am not worthy of you, I am not worthy of anybody…not you…not Inuyasha and not our daughter. Oh god…'

Visions of Hotaru and Inuyasha still having sex tortured her mind, soon her reality was becoming too much to bare. She went into the room and pulled a small ornate box out of her dresser draw.

“Kagome? Y'kay?” Miroku said sleepily looking toward his wife with one eye open and his hair roguishly disheveled.

Kagome smiled sadly her eyes full of so much pain and suffering.

“Miroku…I love you…I do…I'm so sorry that I've never said it…I'm so sorry that…that I made you feel as if…”

Miroku sat up in the bed for now he was worried.

“Kagome?”

Kagome began to cry and he hurriedly rushed out of the bed to her hugging her to him and soothed her back.

“My dearest Kagome, I know…I know you love me…”

She shook her head.

“You don't understand…secretly I wanted something to happen something that can reverse time and…”

“And than you can change you and me right?”

“I'm so sorry Miroku…I love Inuyasha …but…I love you…I love our daughter but…I'm not worthy of you or anybody…all this bad happening is because of me…I wish I never went down the well in the first place, Inuyasha would still be on that tree forever, you would not have met Sango and…and Naraku would have never come out again and fight for the jewel. Don't you see…it's all my fault!”

Miroku patiently waited for Kagome to finish so that he can dry her tears.

“Did you have another nightmare?”

“You can say that.” She bit out angrily.

“What happened? Do you wish to share?”

Visions of Hotaru and Inuyasha danced in her head like sugar plum fairies.

“No…it's just that… vengeance; it's a bitter cup of tea. She paused looking out the window as the sun began to rise.

I'm sorry Miroku…please go back to sleep you need your rest…I don't want for you to get sick again ok. I'm going to go and make some tea to calm my nerves and I'll come back to bed alright?”

“But Kagome, it is morning already and I have some things to do around the temple.”

“Oh, you're right, well, I'll go put some tea on and make some breakfast.”

Kagome placed a chase kiss on Miroku's lips and ruffled his hair some more to let him know not to worry about her before she walked out of the room. Miroku frowned as he watched her exit. She was keeping something from him. She seemed really depressed, almost like she was eighteen years ago before the drug habit started. He got up and began to get ready for the day as he thought about his own dreams his dreams of something foreboding about to happen.

`It must be getting close, our final battle with whatever wants to fight with us. I must go and write up some more sutra's and spells. I promise you Kagome, we will be happy again, we will be.'

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“Master Inuyasha.”

He turned around to see the Jeanie prostrating before him.

“Jeanie? What are you doing here?”

“Your second wish master has been fulfilled; I am here to grant your third wish.”

“What do you mean my second wish was fulfilled, I didn't do anything to make my wish come true yet, in fact I was working on it…until…”

“Well master, you should be very pleased, the wench that you used to care for, the girls mother, well she was here and she witnessed everything. I made sure to whisper in her ear and tell her it was all her fault, that she was unworthy of you and that this was her punishment.”

Inuyasha stood there for a moment shocked, never had he imagined Kagome watching him have sex with anyone, let alone her daughter.

`Damn that must've been a low blow. I'd be pissed off…but then again…she deserved it. It wasn't my intention but the gods wanted her punished, so it worked to my advantage.'

He began to smile at himself.

“Great, it has been accomplished, not how I expected to go, but keh, who the hell cares. She got her just deserts.”

“So master are you ready for your third wish then?”

“No, now I have no idea what else to wish for. I'll let you know when I know.”

The Jeanie pouted.

“But master, you said once you make your third wish I'll be free.”

Inuyasha gave the Jeanie the `don't piss me off' look and she backed away.

“I'm sorry master, please forgive me for trying to make you rush, I have an eternity, please take your time, your wish should be perfect.”

“Keh.”

With that she disappeared and Inuyasha went back to his mate and lay down beside her to watch her sleep but he kept thinking about what the Jeanie had said and it didn't sit well. He thought he'd be happy that he got his revenge; he thought he'd be ok, but looking at Hotaru, how would she feel if she knew the truth from the beginning. Though he doesn't feel that way now, how would he ever make her believe otherwise.

`Damn that kitsune, he was right I should have left it alone. Everyone was telling me to leave it alone and now…I might lose everything, well, I still have a third wish.'

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Miroku came back into the house after a long day taking care of the temple grounds. He had made some more spells and found some more talismans to ward off evil and make himself stronger against the new threat in feudal Japan.

Entering the house he felt that something was off.

“Kagome? Kagome are you home?”

He went about the rooms of the house and finally he went to Hotaru's room. The door was slightly ajar, which it hasn't been opened in a while. He pushed the door open and saw Kagome passed out and pale on the floor surrounded by her journals from when she time traveled.

“Kagome…what is going on here?”

He saw a pen in her hand and next to her an open journal

`Inuyasha has made his revenge known to me. This morning a dream woke me up, a dream that I can change everything and start over again. The dream would not leave me so I decided to go and see if I wasn't just dreaming can I go back and change everything and right all the wrongs. I did go back to the feudal era and though winter is just on the verge of ending there I noticed that the sacred tree was in full bloom, I don't know how, but there they were…Hotaru and Inuyasha…they were making love, Hotaru looked so beautiful and Inuyasha…he was magnificent…just like I knew he would be. I felt jealous of my own daughter…because she has now what I wanted so desperately back then. No I take it back; she has what I wanted even up til now. I love my husband Miroku…it took all this trouble with Hotaru and her school to make me realize this…it took hurting him to realize that I love him, but, I still regret hurting Inuyasha. But what I regret most of all as that all this time, since I've had those dreams while pregnant that I hated and envied my daughter. While I loved her I hated her as well. How can I her mother feel that way toward my own flesh. I tried so hard to push it from me, but, when I saw the visions of my dreams coming true I felt it all over again, the deep hate for my daughter mixed with the deep love I have for her.

What hurts the most is that he actually said the words that I've so long to hear eighteen years ago and he marked her. I wished when I saw it that it was me, that it was me even for a moment in his arms, to know his touch, I've wanted it for so long…could taste it almost every time I laid down with my husband only to feel the deep void of my loss when I opened my eyes and realized it wasn't Inuyasha.

I'm sorry Inuyasha for the pain I caused you, now I know how you felt when I slept with Miroku that day, that day by the well…'

Miroku put the journal down. Tears were in his eyes. Yet again she has hurt him, but it was the punishment for betraying a friend. And to know that his daughter now belongs to Inuyasha…and that secretly all these years Kagome hated her daughter and now he'll never see his daughter home again, this must have been the vengeance Inuyasha spoke of when they last met.

“Kagome, wake up.”

He said with pained tears in his eyes. He stroked her hair and then her cheek and then he stiffened.

“Kagome? Kagome!”

He started to look around frantically when he saw it sitting on top of the desk; the ornate box.

“My god what have you done Kagome?”

Picking her up; he ran to the car that they owned and drove her immediately to the hospital.

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Hotaru climbed out of the well, she thought it odd that the ladder was in the well, but then she figured that her parents expected her to come home one day after all. She has missed so much of what was happening in her time that when she stepped out she could immediately see that she was no longer in the past.

People were walking around the shrine, tourist and a family from America stopped and asked her to take a picture with them. She was wearing one of the kimono's that Inuyasha gave her since she no longer had her modern clothes. She felt very uncomfortable now, as if she never belonged here in this time. The time she grew up in. She walked into the house to find it oddly quiet. She noticed the front door open and now began to worry just a bit. There were so many people outside.

“Mom? Daddy? Anybody home?”

Closing the door to the main room Hotaru looked around the living room and fingered some of the pictures that were on the mantle. Picking one up of her grandmother she held it to her chest in a tight embrace.

“I'm so sorry mama; I never meant to hurt you I hope you know that where ever you are.”

She then picked up a picture of herself when she was small, how sad and alone she looked even then. Putting it down she continued on and saw the picture of her parents getting married, how happy they looked. She stared at the picture trying to figure out what had went wrong, why did they seem so happy and now…she shook her head as pictures of her past filtered her mind.

She sat down on the couch looking through some photo albums that were underneath the side tables by the futon couch. For some reason she had to get all these memories into her head because she had planned on never coming back. Finding a picture of she and her father at a festival when she was younger she pulled it out of the album and placed it to her side, how she loved and adored her father. Tears began to leak out of her eyes as she remembered the way she felt so betrayed that he was with that prostitute, after what had happened to her. Looking over she saw a picture of her mother holding her on her lap during festival and it was by the sacred tree. Her mother's face looked so sad while she sat there smiling goofily with two front teeth missing.

“Why were you so sad mother? Did you dislike me even then?”

As she kept looking at the past memories, every picture that had her or Miroku in it Kagome continued to look so sad. Her face smiled but it never reached her brown eyes until eventually, even Miroku looked sad and Hotaru.

“It seems mother that you are the one who brought this family down. The only one who had a genuine smile is mama.”

Closing the book she put it back and grabbed the pictures she wanted to take with her and went upstairs to her room. Upon entering she noticed the books on the floor and bent down to pick one up.

`Hi, my name is Kagome Higurashi. My fifteenth birthday is coming in a few days and I am looking forward to it. I bought this hello kitty journal as a gift to myself, so, here I am, I am going to write down my life's boring saga.

Souta has been such a bother, he's been picking on me about getting older and that I don't have a boyfriend. I could soo give him a few knocks upside the head, but if I do mom won't like that and then she'll commence on saying that I am not acting my age, so, I just ignore the little booger. Anyway, my friends think that this guy in class name Hojo likes me.

I wonder if he'll ask me out. He seems nice enough and he's pretty popular, but, he seems so, oh I don't know he's nice, safe, conventional. I was kind've more interested in a guy whose a bit rough and wild, but that wouldn't be my type of guy would it?'

Hotaru closed the book. She wondered if she should take the books that were scattered over her floor.

`I could find out more about my mother and maybe understand why she became so sad, why she became who she is. Maybe, maybe some how I can reconcile with her before…well…I don't know what is to happen to me. I could die and if I die because of Hitomi, well…I don't want to die hating my mother so…'

Picking up the books she placed them on her bed, grabbed a suitcase and started packing. Throwing underwear and some comfortable clothes and all the female toiletry she can find, for she was sure going to see if the youkai's can mimic the stuff and stop using the folded towels they provided for her that time of the month. Picking up the books she wondered again if she should take them.

`I'm going to do it. I need to know.'

Putting them on top of her clothes and whatnot she closed the suitcase and went over to the desk.

Dear parents, I just wanted to let you know that I am fine. I came back only to pack some things. I found out why I have certain powers that are dangerous. It's because I have an alter ego, her name is Hitomi and she is bad news. There is nothing that doctors in this era can deal with for her powers are very strong. Like a dark priestess or something. She can and has hurt mortals as well as youkai so with that said I just have to say, that I'm probably not going to come back for fear of hurting other people. I am sorry for all the trouble I caused you. I'm sorry too for mama, because I realize that through me, Hitomi was able to hurt her, hurt her enough that she had a serious injury. It's my fault and I take full responsibility. Inuyasha and his brother well, hopefully, they can find a cure for me. If not, I am probably safest with them in their world than here. Another thing is that I am in love with Inuyasha and he with me. I don't fit in this era and am best with him. He's shown me patience and love and we have so much in common. Please, please don't be angry or sad, please be happy for me and my decision. It's the best for everyone. Daddy, please don't come back for me, don't fight with Inuyasha again. I hope that once I'm fixed maybe Inuyasha will let me visit with you both, until then please understand daddy. I forgive you, I just want for you and mom to work on being happy together again. Hopefully now that I am gone the two of you will be happier. Maybe start over again.

With the deepest love for you both

Your daughter,

Hotaru.

For some reason writing that letter did not make her feel better. There was something in her heart that ached. Looking around again she tried to hold a mental picture of her room. She opened her parents' bedroom door and looked in. She noticed her father's spiritual staff up against the wall. Walking up to it she fingered it lovingly. She's always loved the sound of its jingle as he walked. Ghost of memories flooded her mind's eye and she began to tear up. Going to her grandmother's room she took a couple of her grandmother's favorite things including some art work that she had done for her.

Hotaru tearfully went into the kitchen and grabbed a plastic bag under the counter. Going into the pantry she grabbed some ramen noodle and thought it odd again that Inuyasha would know about it. He gave her some excuse that when he was here last time checking up on her when she first visited his era he decided to go and investigate her era and he smelled the ramen noodles and wanted to taste it. Looking around again she reminisced on the happy moments though it seemed so few and all the painful moments.

`Well, good-bye shrine, please take care of my parents and make them happy again.'

Turning around she ran to the well and jumped down salt of tears running from the corner of her eyes.