InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Fates ❯ Ripples ( Chapter 23 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 23: Ripples

Aiko watched her daughter go about her shrine duties with a worried frown. Since the day she'd come back from her last appointment with Mika, she'd been withdrawn and distant with everyone - including Shippo.

That, in itself, was unusual.

What was even stranger, and more worrisome, was that she was still doing the 'shrine maiden' thing. After all that had happened, and the time that had passed, she had thought, indeed, they all had thought, that she would have given that up by now.

She hadn't, though, and Yasha himself was beginning to be convinced that she never would - that he was doomed to spend his life alone. Because if he didn't spend it with her, he had no intentions of spending it with anyone else.

He couldn't even imagine such a thing.

Even her father-in-law was finally becoming concerned - Kagome's behavior lately had all of them wondering...

Kagome herself, pretty much oblivious to everything around her, was going about her duties lost in her thoughts - as she had been since the day she'd spoken to Inuyasha.

She was fighting with herself.

One side of her felt guilty - horribly guilty, for taking out the hurt Inuyasha had given her on Yasha. Because, in her refusal to even give a future with him a chance, that's what she was doing, and that was finally clear to her.

On the other hand, the other side of her was not willing to let anyone in again. It insisted that it wasn't worth it. And that as soon as she gave him her heart, he'd decide that he didn't want it after all, and toss her - just like Inuyasha had done.

So she'd spent days fighting back and forth inside herself... and then there was the part of her that had once been Kikyou.

You should be with him. He's the one meant for you.

Kagome almost growled at that. As if the stupid bitch cared about her being happy - she'd proven that well enough the first go-round.

I didn't mind seeing you happy - just not with my Inuyasha. He wasn't meant for you - just as Yasha isn't meant for me.

She snarled inwardly, wanting the voice of that vampire to shut up.

What would have happened if you had never gone back to my time? You would have met Yasha, and you'd already be together - and happy.

Yeah? she shouted into her own mind. But that didn't happen, now did it? Because I got sent back in time to fix your fuck-ups... and the thanks I got was being thrown away like so much trash! So just shut your mouth - I don't want to hear anything you have to say - if I could, I'd kick that piece of soul that's yours right out of me again...

But you can't, because I'm part of you. And what you got in the way of thanks has been standing right in front of you since you got back, if you weren't being so childish as to kick him while he's down and hurting over you, just to get back at me and Inuyasha.

Kagome fell silent at that, shocked beyond all belief.

Is that what I'm doing?

Echoing silence met that question for a long, almost eternal-seeming moment, and then, a resounding "Yes!" echoed back - all three parts agreeing on that.

Unbidden, and completely unnoticed by her own consciousness, her feet made their way towards the Goshinboku, and she plopped down amongst its roots, in shock from the revelation - the darkness in her soul wasn't so little anymore, she realized, and if she were facing Akago now, she'd have lost to him.

What have I let myself become? This... this isn't me. I've let Inuyasha and Kikyou turn me into someone else... and that's my fault - not theirs.

Shame and anger at herself flooded her in that moment, and she scowled down at the ground.

It's time to change this - to get myself back. I don't like what I've let myself become.

I'm acting like... Kikyou. And I don't want to.

For the first time since she'd come back through the well that final time, she felt a weight slip off her shoulders, and a sense of peace settle inside her again... that peace she'd thought long gone, and irreplaceable.

With a determined look on her face, she stood up, and clapped her hands together. "I'm going upstairs, change out of this stupid miko get-up, and call Yasha. Maybe I can get him to go to a movie with me."

---cCc---

Half an hour later, she was changed into something she hadn't worn since she'd been home, face made up just a little, and ready to go.

Now, just to call Yasha, and see if he's willing to go. She winced. That is, if he hasn't decided to just give up on me and go out with that Akina... her eyes narrowed, and she almost growled.

Digging around on her desk, she picked up her new cell phone, and dialed his number, nervously waiting for hi to pick up.

"Hey, Yasha," she said when he answered the phone.

"Oh... Kagome! Is something wrong," he asked, suddenly sounding worried.

"No, no, I'm fine... I just wanted to ask you something." He could practically hear her blush over the phone, and he frowned, wondering what the hell was up. Her next words froze him.

"I was just wondering, uhm... if you wanted to go to the movies with me," she finally managed to spit out.

"Uh... me and Shippo, do'ya mean?" he asked uncertainly.

Kagome twisted her skirt in her fingers even tighter, then smoothed it back out. "Mmm, no... just you... and me, you know, like a date."

Silence.

"Hello? Yasha? Are you still there?"

"Uhm, yeah," he almost squeaked out, and flinched at himself. Great, good going, Yasha, could you sound anymore like a fool? "I'm still here... and yeah... I'd love to go to the movies, if your sure, that is...?" he trailed off.

"Yeah, I'm sure," she said, this time firmly. "I could meet you there, or..."

"No, no, I'll meet you at the shrine in say... half an hour? Or is that too soon?"

"Nope, that'll be good. I'll be ready... see you soon!" she chirped, and he agreed, before she hung up the phone, and he was left staring at his, almost thinking he'd fallen into the twilight zone.

What was that? Did she really...? And then he realized, yes, that was real, and I only have half an hour to be there! Shit, I need to get ready!

And he was off, ripping through everything in his wardrobe to find something good, then dressed himself faster than he'd ever done - left a note for his mom, and then hit the door, running so fast that his stalker and her friends almost didn't even see him...

It would, perhaps, have been better for them if they hadn't.

---cCc---

Luckily for Yasha, he made it with one minute to spare, and he knocked on the door, nerves almost shot as he waited for it to be answered, half-convinced that she'd changed her mind and decided she still hated him.

He'd barely pulled his hand back, though, before Kagome slid the door open, with a nervous smile, she stepped out, and closed the door behind her.

"Yasha..." she trailed off uncertainly.

"Hey," he smiled at her. "I'm... glad you called - although, I won't deny I'm utterly confused that you did," he said, as they began walking across the courtyard headed for the street.

She laughed a little, blushing slightly. "Well... I spent the last few days kinda locked up in my own mind, doing a lot of thinking," she looked away, shame clear on her face, "and I came to the conclusion that I've been acting like a spoiled brat. What happened with Inuyasha and Kikyou... there's no denying it hurt - but I knew he'd choose her eventually," she sighed.

Lifting her face up and closing her eyes, she let the breeze caress her face for a moment, before she opened her eyes again. "It doesn't make what he did right... but it's over, and done - and I haven't been fair to you by shutting you out. Your actions are your own, and so far, they've all been honorable. So... I decided that I needed to put all of that in the past - and start looking to the future." She looked at him, then, meeting his hopeful gaze.

"A future that I'm willing to see if you'll fit in, Yasha. What do you say?" she asked, a nervous smile once again lighting her face.

He stared at her, shock and hope and happiness blending together in his eyes for long moments before he could find his voice.

"Uhm... what do you mean, exactly? Are we like, still just friends hanging out... or...?" he asked, uncertainty once again tainting his voice.

Kagome flushed a becoming cranberry color, and dropping her eyes, mumbled, "Well... I did say this was a date... and 'just friends' don't really go out on dates, do they?"

Wild hope burst in his chest, but he cautiously asked, "So... you want to... date? Like in, your my girl, and I'm your guy?" he whispered, almost afraid to say it any louder for fear she'd disappear before his Kagome starved eyes.

She nodded slowly, still not able to look up at him, as her flush deepened, and he whooped into the air loudly, unable to control the flush of joy that darted through him.

"Hell yeah," he yelled, startling her into laughter, "did you really think I'd turn you down?!" he asked incredulously. "I've been wanting this for years, I've just been waiting for you to get done with your duties to the past!"

She chuckled, still blushing, but glad as hell that was over, and she didn't even flinch when he carefully reached out and took her hand as they started walking again, heading for the shrine entrance and the long flight of stairs they needed to navigate to get to the outside world.

"So... I don't really know anything about being a girlfriend," she said, "since I've never been one, but... "I think I'll enjoy learning," she said shyly, squeezing his hand softly.

He huffed a laugh. "Well, I don't know any more about it than you do... ain't never wanted anyone but you, anyway," he finished, and Kagome darted a shy gaze up to his, then looked away, still blushing a light pink.

"Oh," she breathed in wonder. "I hadn't really thought about that... that you'd been waiting for me. I guess we can learn together, then."

"Yeah... together," he smiled softly down at her. "That's the best word ever, when it comes to you and me, anyway."

He chuckled. "It's going to take some getting used to, though... I'd almost given up hope. What made you change your mind so suddenly? I mean, I know you said you'd done a lot of thinking, but this..." he moved their joined hands, "I didn't expect this," he finished.

Kagome tilted her head and thought about it. "I guess I can see how you'd think it was sudden, but... it really wasn't. I mean, I've spent the last two months being friends with you, and hanging out with you and Shippo, so it's not like I don't know you or anything. It's no different than if we'd met in school and hung out as friends for a while and then started dating."

He nodded in understanding. "I guess so... if you take away all that other mess."

She knew right away what he meant. "And that's exactly what I did. I got hurt, grieved, and now it's time to move on. Simple as that. I'm not saying that it doesn't still hurt, because it does, and maybe, it'll hurt in some way for the rest of my life. But I'm no longer willing to contemplate letting that hurt be the only thing of note in my life."

He smiled then, genuine pleasure lighting up his golden eyes. "Now that sounds more like the Kagome I spent so many years protecting. I'm really glad to see her back," he finished softly.

She met his gaze with a serious look. "There will still be bad days, you know... it's not over yet, but... dawn is finally approaching."

He knew instantly what she meant, and hoped that she was right. He didn't want to lose her... especially not now that she was willing to try... willing to let him into her heart.

"I hope so, Kagome, I really do. Because you already know that I love you, and I don't want to have to hide it anymore."

She squirmed uncomfortably at that. "I... I..."

"You don't have to say it yet, Kagome. I don't want you to until you mean it with all your heart. But I want you to know how I feel, and never doubt it, okay? There is no other for me."

"I do have feelings for you, Yasha, don't misunderstand, but... I'm not sure what they are yet, and I'm not ready to push it. I just want to be with you, and let things come naturally, okay?" She murmured an apology to the person in front of her as she was jostled from behind, and turning, was about to say something, when she caught sight of Yasha's stalker and her little buddies a little ways back, obviously shadowing them.

With an angry scowl, she turned back around and hissed, "Don't look now, but stalker chick is just behind us with some of her friends."

Yasha winced at the anger in her voice, and Kagome immediately apologized.

"I'm not mad at you, Yasha, but I am going to kick her out of our lives, as long as you don't mind, of course," she said.

"Go right ahead," he said, urbanely. "I don't mind in the least."

She grinned mischievously, and he grinned wickedly back.

Uh-oh... wonder what she's gonna unleash on that freaky bitch? That look never meant anything good for the one on the receiving end of it...

---cCc---

Sesshoumaru sat back, hands steepled on his desk before him as he considered the call he'd just received. Yasha's mother had returned home to find that her son had gone out... on a date with Kagome.

Perhaps she is finally coming out of what the barbarian I was stuck with as a brother did to her. It is good news.

Closing his eyes, he sighed, and his shoulders slumped, just slightly. Slight as it was, however, for those that knew him, it would have been a worrisome sign.

He was simply tired, and in that moment, it showed.

Once I have finished my final duty to her, and my fool of a brother, I will let go, I think... I am more than ready. All the centuries do now is weigh on me, wearing me down little by little. I think... I think I envy you, father. You escaped all of this - perhaps I will at least find peace once I have moved on, he thought.

He sat back, letting his eyes stay closed, and thought about centuries past - when he did nothing but wander the lands and fight those who were worthy. Days when all he cared about was conquest, and the next powerful opponent.

Days before he'd been forced to do his duty by mating one he could never love, and providing heirs for his lands.

He'd walked with her, and lived with her, even slept next to her for centuries until her death, and yet... he'd never felt more than a light respect for her - no matter what she'd done.

And I never could have given her anymore than what I did, no matter how many more years she might have lived. But at least, I did my duty, and the lands will remain in the hands of those that carry the blood of my forefathers.

Yes... that much I did. Always, I did my duty. And now I am tired of duty - I just want peace.

With another weary sigh, he opened his eyes, and sat back up, straightening his posture, and once again hiding his weariness behind his usual stoic facade.

Soon... but not yet, he thought.

And with that, he picked up the phone, and made another call.

Duty calls...

---cCc---

A/N: Yeah... in this fic, Sesshoumaru's fate won't be a happy one... though he'll find a sort of peace in the end, don't expect a happy ending for him. But don't worry... I really can't stand to make Sesshoumaru suffer, I've got to big a crush on him. This will be the only fic I ever write with that type of ending for the daiyoukai.

As for the chapter, hope everyone enjoys - and sorry it took a while, this one and Malice are just not making it easy on me, and my plot bunnies have all dried up on these two stories. But I'm still out there, and even if it takes longer, I'll still get them done.

Amber