InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Calling Your Name ❯ Coming to Terms, Part II ( Chapter 5 )
[ P - Pre-Teen ]
Disclaimer: Dog-boy, Kouga's cubs, and mikos (from any era) aren't mine! Well, maybe Kouga's cubs are… And even though I'm in love with the lyrics, neither does Alanis Morissette, City of Angels soundtrack or “Uninvited”. I think I hear the world's smallest violin playing in the background over this!
*****
Coming to Terms, Part II
-Jasmine Fields
*****
“Don't you have somewhere else to be, Dog-breath?”
Kouga allowed Inuyasha to stay near the den for the six months in passing as an extra precaution against intruders who sought the extinction of his clan - long enough for the cubs to wean them selves from their mother and long enough to learn some basic survival skills.
The thrill of being a father - the gloating and prideful harassment of the youngsters caused a shiver to work its way down his spine.
“Stinky, smelly wolf, you don't know anything!”
Another argument?
No way would the prince of the wolf demon tribe indulge the idiosyncrasies of the half-demon - royalty or other wise today.
“I know it's been ten years since we've said good-bye to Kagome and all, but you have yet to make a wish on that dumb jewel. I'm sure she would worry and think her sacrifice were vain if you don't do some thing with it soon.”
Crossing his arms to display his disregard, he snorted in an attempt to evade the true issue.
“That's none of your business.”
Growling a reprimand - of sorts - Kouga walked over and clobbered him, soundly, at the back of the head.
“Just like one of the cubs, you turd for baka-brains dog! I knew I should have just followed my intuition and made a real claim on Kagome long ago. Then we wouldn't have this discussion - and she'd still be in this era. Of course, you're the only one too stupid to realize that you're nothing but miserable with out her around.”
“Keh! At least you have that Ayame woman! And that doesn't take away the fact that I'd still have this damned jewel to take care of!”
“Well, maybe… but who's really to say?”
Sighing, Inuyasha relented, admitting temporary defeat with regards to the discussion at hand and sat down pulling Tesseiga over his lap to cradle it in his arms as he leaned against the cave wall.
“Perhaps… Never figured you for a smart one, wolf.”
//Like anyone would be//
//I am flattered by your fascination with me//
Fangs cracked in a grin, suppressing quiet chuckles, Kouga sat across from him choking down some water he was drinking to cover his amusement.
“I've always been smarter - when it comes to my woman and that jewel.”
“Damn your bloated arrogance!”
Silence settled peaceably throughout the den after their short-lived rant. The day was lazily undisturbed - with clouds high in the sky and no troubles to bare. Mother Nature deemed autumn worthy of an allowance for a few more weeks of warmth before first winter's chill set in - and for that, human, demon, and animal alike were grateful for their small blessings… even if only for a short time more.
When the sun rose to the mid-day, a shadow loomed, blocking the entrance to the cave that they were resting in.
//Like any hot blooded woman//
//I have simply wanted an object to crave//
Glancing up from his relaxed slumber, Inuyasha suddenly scurried to his feet and stumbled to fasten Tesseiga against his hip.
“Kikyo! Wha-what are you doing here?”
Smiling softly, she reached out her hand to steady her self as she entered the cave, limping and favoring the use of her bow for a prop.
“The jewel is not gone, yet? Figures that would be the reason I still wander around.”
She sounded secluded and lonesome, with eyes warm and scent lingering sweetly the way he always remembered it - even when she was actually alive sixty-some years ago. The scent of death never flooded his senses around her - and that always bothered him on some subconscious level of reasoning.
“Kikyo,” he started at a loss, “what would you like for me to do?”
//But you - you're notallowed//
//You're uninvited//
//Unfortunate slight//
“Sorry for intruding, dog-breath, but since when did you find another woman?”
“Shut up, wolf. Like I said, you don't know any thing.”
//Must be strangely exciting//
//To watch the stoic squirm//
Stretching out his arms to catch her from falling, he resisted the urge to exclaim his undying love, since the love between them was painfully treacherous and futile as things were now.
Not to mention…
“You have not forgotten Kagome, I see.”
“No.” He confessed.
Gazing up, she caressed his face with the back of her knuckles then nearly jerking out of what ever sentiment she still held on to, lowered her gaze to the ground, resisting her own heart's desires. She would come to do as she willed, then depart quickly, if the nature of the jewel would allow her one last mercy.
“Forgive my trespassing.”
//Must be somewhat heartening//
//To watch themburn the shepherd//
“Kikyo, there's nothin' to forgive.”
Pausing from her concentrated trance, she found the location of the complete jewel strung around his neck, then leaned in to remove it.
“Because I am already dead, there is nothing evil that can touch me or the one I love.”
“Kikyo?”
“I will purify the jewel my self and make a wish on it -”
“Why?”
//But this is not allowed//
//You're uninvited//
//Unfortunate slight//
Clearing his throat in a polite attempt not to be ignored - completely at least - Kouga walked over to his half-nemesis half-friend and placed his hand on his shoulder. Eyes clear with understanding he wished the best of luck and health.
“When you see her again, tell her we swore to survive to see her again in her time.”
Then, smiling sadly, he walked out of the cave to greet the rest of the tribe members and conduct routine affairs.
//Like any uncharted territory//
//I must seem greatly intriguing//
Blinking away the clash of light and dark, Inuyasha took a step back.
“But, you don't have to do this.”
“I do this because I don't want you haunted throughout eternity. I will find my peace with doing this one last thing.”
//You speak of my love like//
//You have experiencesofmine before//
She had managed to seal away the jewel many years ago… but not the nature thereof. This time, she would do it the right way - and it would disappear forever, never to return to this era or any other.
//I don't think you unworthy…//
Holding the jewel in both hands she didn't even bother chanting a priestess spell. Her words ought to have been sufficient. She knew it would work.
“I wish for Inuyasha to make a leap into the future to love the one he is bound to - the one who finished what I could not - whether as a human or hanyou - so long as no other but my self suffers.”
No lights flashed. No divine voices were heard… none of nature's beasts cried or roared. No fear sliced into her heart and no tears fell from her face. Nothing spectacular - only her love and sadness.
Relief flooded her soul when he disappeared from her sight.
//I need a moment to deliberate…//
The determination and purpose of fate had been accomplished ten years ago, and destiny would follow her sister's lead on to a more certain path - for whoever was laudable of such privilege to whatever means necessary.
And she finally discovered a permanent rest that comes when the natural order of all things are fulfilled.
*****