InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Hearts and Crushed Dreams ❯ The Pain and Aftermath ( Chapter 3 )

~Chapter Three~

.:The Pain and Aftermath:.

 

He stood there, without expression. Kagome couldn't read the emotion in his eyes like she so often could; in fact, she couldn't remember a time when she couldn't read into his eyes. It felt as though he could read into her soul, as if he saw something she couldn't.

The sudden urge to run rose and fell along with her breathing. As soon as she chose to sprint towards the well, her legs wouldn't move and the urge would dissipate and settle to the bottom.

He started towards her, moving slowly, almost as if he didn't want to scare her away. His eyes had changed; they were darker; but his expression still unreadable. The wind was warm and subtle, but the beating of Kagome's heart was pounding in her ears which put her on edge with every step Inuyasha took.

With every emotion, every beat, every reaction; she understood them all. Even when he didn't, or it wasn't possible to explain through words. She knew him through and through, inside and out. She knew what made him tick. Inuyasha had amazed her throughout the years with his kindness, his bravery, and his passion. She supposed he knew her as well as she knew him, but she would probably never be sure. After being together so long it was hard not to know everything. Through all the bloodshed and tears, he was there for her, he knew how to make her feel better. He also gave her pain; Kagome knew he never meant to, but he always managed to succeed one way or another.

She felt like screaming and crying; a mixture of both. After losing someone so dear and close, it physically hurts. It almost feels like you lost a part of your heart… your soul… or both. Kagome could feel the tears swelling at the brim and would soon spill over, the stinging in her nose and the tightness in her throat about to choke her. There was too much raw emotion; she was too exposed and too vulnerable. She didn't feel like sympathy or pathos; she wanted to curl up and stop thinking of the blood covering the ground where her now dead friends lay, stop thinking of the cynical smile on Naraku's lips as he slowly killed three of her dearest friends. They were more than just her friends; they were a part of her family.

Miroku… Sango… Shippo… they didn't deserve this…

Inuyasha was close now, his eyes locked with hers. Such a vibrant gold, full of life and depth was now clouded over with grief. The emotion was obvious to her now, how could she have missed it before? With a shaky hand, he took her in his arms. Kagome could feel the beating of his heart, she could feel the warmth of his body, and she could feel the rise and fall of his chest with every shaky breath he took. He was in just as much pain as she was.

Kagome closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder and let her tears pour down her dirty face. Instinctively, Inuyasha tightened his grip around her waist and ran his fingers through her hair. They stood together in each others arms, neither of them aware of how long. Kagome's tears subsided and Inuyasha loosened his grip on her as they looked into each others eyes once more. There was relief in his gaze as she studied him. She smiled timidly to let him know they were going to be alright, to reassure him they were going to make it through the pain as long as they stayed together. To let him know there is light in the darkest of places and situations, no matter how hopeless it may seem. She didn't know what she would do if he wasn't there to help her; she would probably lose her mind, no doubt. The corners of his lips turned slightly upward in return, but she knew he was trying his best to be strong.

Inuyasha had always been her security. She never really felt like she was in danger when he was near, he would never let anything happen to her, no matter how bashed and bruised he got in the process of protecting her. But now he was on the verge of breaking down himself and there wasn't enough strength in him to keep them both from going over the edge. She knew she had to depend on herself until they both got back on their feet.

 

 

Inuyasha looked into her watery eyes for some explanation.

Why? Why did they have to die?

I don't understand…

He wanted to know why this had happened. He knew Kagome didn't know either.

He was moving slowly; he knew she wanted to run. Fear and hurt was radiating off her in huge waves.

Kagome meant so much to him, he would never have been able to live without her being here. He felt like he was going to crumble into a mess of tiny pieces on the floor. His heart in his chest was pounding so hard, it hurt him as he tried not to cry. His eyes stung; he hated feeling like this.

When his mother had died, he felt just like this. He had vowed to never cry again on that day. When he found her lying on the floor, he thought she was sleeping. But when she wouldn't wake up when he called her name, he knew she wouldn't be coming back.

Shaking the memory from his mind, he turned his concentration to Kagome. She was so beautiful, he wished tears never came to her eyes. She didn't deserve the pain she received for loving someone. Even from him; especially from him. Kikyo had been his world up until he met Kagome. It was hard to change. It had only taken a few days for her to get under his skin. It had been easy to fall for her; and he fell hard.

Now after some odd years, he loved her more than he ever could have imagined possible. He wished he could tell her, but that was almost as hard as changing.

He took her in his shaking arms, which he despised. He was shaking, it showed weakness. Her head came to the bottom of his chin, as she held him close. He rested his head on the top of her's and breathed in her scent. Gratefully, his shaking subsided as he relaxed against Kagome. He tried to get his mixed emotions raging inside of him under some semblance of control. The love he was feeling for Kagome which seemed to grow with every moment that passed and the enormous pain of losing his closest friends he had come to trust and care for.

She leaned back as they looked into each other's eyes, all the while, Inuyasha never letting go of Kagome's waist. She smiled at him, reassuring him. He tried to smile, but he couldn't without breaking down.

How can she smile with so much pain overwhelming every cell of her body?

She's Kagome… she can do anything…a voice in the back of his mind replied.

 

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As they approached Kaede's village, the two held hands for support and the comfort of knowing they could depend on each other. They needed each other more than ever and they both knew there was no denying it. There was no need to express it in words.

Kagome and Inuyasha had found a suitable place to bury their friends in Inuyasha's Forest; where the birds sang and the sounds of the forest were comforting. Afternoon had come soon enough as they dug three graves together.

A small grave for Shippo. He was the first to join Inuyasha and Kagome on their journey to collect the Shikon jewel shards. After losing his father to the Thunder Brothers, he stayed with them. He was still a child and yet underwent so much more than he should have for his age. Kagome was like a mother to him, whenever he was scared he ran to her for safety. She was Shippo's security, just as Inuyasha was hers.

Miroku was buried next to Shippo; in the middle. Miroku was the second to accompany Inuyasha and Kagome on their search for the jewel shards. He was cursed by Naraku with the Kazaana, the Wind Tunnel. It threatened to swallow him whole, so he went after Naraku to lift the curse upon him and his future heirs, but no one anticipated he would be killed by Naraku.

Sango was the last to be buried. She was a highly talented demon slayer who had joined Inuyasha and Kagome after Naraku had set a trap for her and her fellow demon slayers. Her father and younger brother, Kohaku, never emerged alive. Naraku had been using Kohaku as a puppet to carry out his dirty deeds; Sango had been trying to free him from Naraku's grasp. They could only hope she and her brother were together somewhere now.

They laid their weapons on their graves to indicate who was who; Shippo's small top, Sango's Hiraikotsu, and Miroku's staff.

Their three friends had made the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They had stayed in their lives for but a short time, made footprints on their hearts, and they would never, ever see the world in the same way again.