InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Confrontation ❯ Summer Rain ( Chapter 49 )

Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership to anyone other than Jouyoku and Miebi Kokushi and Nokio.

 

Quote:

 

Only a fool denies the truth, when it staring him in the face.

 

~Simonkal of Inuy~

 

Chapter 49: Summer Rain

 

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Kagome glanced out over the glistening lake. It had been three months since she woke up not 6 feet from where she now knelt, washing her few meager belongings.

 

Staring up and to the left, she noticed the vague opening of the cave that had been her home for a total of 5 days after Inuyasha found her. After their talk, things seemed to go back to normal to a certain extent, but she could still see the doubt and reluctance in his eyes and in his movements every now and again.

 

She knew he did his best to hide it from her, but in all honesty she couldn't blame him. From time to time, she herself could still feel Jouyoku's hands all over her body. No matter how often she bathed or how hard she scrubbed her body, the filth of the things she did to him and allowed him to do to her, just wouldn't allow her to forgive herself or to fully accept Inuyasha's forgiveness either.

 

Sighing, she caught the white t-shirt she had been washing tightly in her hands and began to wring it dry. Setting it in the basket she had brought with her, she grabbed a pair of her panties and proceeded to wash them as well.

 

The last thing she wanted to think about was this, but how else was she going to deal with it? Inuyasha had made it quite clear that he no longer wanted to discuss anything dealing with Jouyoku. Sango had been so busy traveling back and forth to the neighboring villages purchasing things for the home that Miroku and Inuyasha was building, that they hadn't had any alone time for their long overdue girl talk. That only left Keade, and although the old Priestess was like a Grandmother to her, the miko just could not bring herself to discuss her personal life with her.

 

Pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear she resumed the scrubbing of her undergarment. `Maybe things aren't as bad as I think they are. Maybe I'm just thinking too much into this. Maybe…maybe I'm making a hill out of an ant pile.'

 

She wanted to believe this, but how could she? From the time she was a little girl her mother had always told her, `A person's actions, always speak louder then the words that fall from their lips.' So then if that was true, did this mean that she now repulsed Inuyasha?

 

Feeling the wetness she didn't want to fall build up around her eyelids, the miko blinked rapidly in hopes of stopping them. `He said he wouldn't leave me.' A tear slipped slowly down the side of her cheek and she quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand. “Okay, so he's not leaving me, but he's not touching me either.” She mumbled to no one in particular.

 

Perhaps that's what hurt the most. In the three months that she had been back among the living… After he brought her home from the cave… He hadn't so much as brushed his hand across the hairs on her arms. Outside of casual conversation and answering questions that she would ask him, he rarely even spoke to her.

 

`He said that he forgave me. So why is he treating me like this? Why is he treating me like I'm…like I'm a leper?'

 

At first she didn't mind the time to herself, because quite honestly she mentally needed it. However as time progressed she realized that he was not only, not touching her, but he wasn't sleeping with her either.

 

When she went to bed at night, he would tell her that he was going to stay up a little longer, but when she awoke in the morning she'd find him either stretched out on the cushions in the sitting room, up in the limbs of Goshinbuko, or stretched out on the front porch, but never…never did she wake up to find him curled up beside her.

 

`What have I done?' Kagome thought brokenheartedly while rubbing the back of her hand across her runny nose.

 

Wringing the underwear out that she had been washing, she threw it in the basket that held all her worldly belongings and sighed. Sitting back on her hunches she raised her face to the sky and prayed for rain. So that then she could cry and no one would be the wiser. There would be no tear streaks left upon her face or no redness of her eyes. It would just be her and the summer rain. No one would judge her, because no one would know. No one would make her feel inept or weak, because no one would be there to watch, as she bared her soul for the gods to see. It would be just her broken heart, her forgotten dreams and the summer rain.

 

“Am I asking for too much?” She asked, knowing she would not get an answer.

 

Drying her hands on the old Kimono that she had gotten from Kaede, Kagome stood to her feet with her basket clasped at her side. Staring out over the lake one last time she sighed softly, then turned and walked in the direction of her and her distant hanyou's home.

 

For the first time in a long time she wanted to go to her real home…her home through the well. So that her mother could hold her as she cried. She knew she wouldn't judge her for the things she was forced to do nor make her feel weak. She would just hold her until she quieted and then tell her that everything would be, as it should.

 

Kagome knew this want was futile, because she had already wished on the jewel and she was still here in the feudal era…his era. She knew in her heart of hearts that even after Inuyasha finished repairing the well, it would never again take her to her loved ones. She would be with him always and him with her, regardless of whether he touched her again or not. This is where she belonged, her death and rebirth had proven as much.

 

“Kagome-sama!! Kagome-sama!!”

 

The miko shut out her thoughts and turned in the direction of the voice calling her name so eagerly and with such passion. She saw a young man about the age of 16 or 17 running in her direction. As he came closer she realized that he was from the village, actually his family lived a few doors down from Kaede's hut.

 

She had seen him more than a few times but she had never spoken to him.

He was about as tall as Miroku, if not a little taller with short-cropped black hair. His medium build was that of the average male his age with the exception of his naturally golden tanned skin and the brilliant smile that always adorned his handsome face.

 

Shifting the basket so that it rested in front of her, Kagome turned towards the young man and smiled softly as he came to a stop before her. Remembering hearing the houshi say the boy's name, the miko stated, “Hi Nokio, how have you been?” While shifting the basket she was carrying so that it was between the two of them.

 

She couldn't help but wonder, `Why in the hell was he calling my name like that?'

 

Bowing lightly the young man tried to catch his breath, “I…I have som…something for you.”

 

Stepping back Kagome eyed the young man curiously. “Is that so?” She stated while watching him feel around the inside of his tattered Haori. Taking another suspicious step back she glanced around the clearing as if she was expecting an ambush.

 

“Ah, there they are!” Nokio stated happily. Showing off a brilliant smile and two deeply engraved dimples on either side of his cheeks, he bowed again and presented her with two neatly wrapped packages.

 

Eyeing the packages suspiciously, the apprehensive Miko stated, “Nokio, I can't accept those. It wouldn't be right.”

 

“Oh, oh, forgive me Kagome-sama, but …unfortunately they're not from me.”

 

This caused her to be even more suspicious, but before she could retort the boy continued on with his tale. “I…I was chasing a wild boar, when a green toad youkai came out of nowhere and demanded I give this to the human wench that lives with the hanyou.” Tilting his head to the side, he scratched his head absently and looked across the yard at the home in question as if he was thinking about something, “ Well, you…you do live with the hanyou, right?”

 

Nodding in agreement, Kagome's thoughts traveled else where, `Green toad, eh?'

 

Shifting his weight from his right foot to his left, Nokio continued, “He said that somebody by the name of Rin, I think that was the name, sends you her thanks.”

 

“Rin?” Kagome stated as if coming out of a daze. “That must have been Jakken that stopped you in the forest. Was he carrying a two headed staff?”

 

Thumbing his chin the boy replied in a matter of fact tone, “Yes, yes he was. It was quite hideous, if I do say so myself.”

 

Kagome laughed for the first time since she had been brought back. “I don't know whether you're talking about Jakken or his staff, but it's just as funny either way.”

 

Nokio immediately relaxed and joined the older woman in a good chuckle at the toads' expense. “I know he's a demon, but I can honestly say that I've met cock roaches with a better temperament than him.”

 

The Miko laughed even harder, “Nokio, that's not nice! You shouldn't talk about your elders like that!” She stated playfully as she clutched her side with her free hand. `Oh, it feels good to laugh again.'

 

Twisting his legs inward while tucking his hands into his armpits, Nokio dropped into a low crouch and began to squawk around in a small circle around Kagome. He then began imitating the toad servant in a very high-pitched nasally voice, “Ninjen, you better take this to the wench that lives with the hanyou or I'll litter this field with your ashes!”

 

“You're too much! Please stop!” Kagome exclaimed as she doubled over dropping the basket she was carrying. “I…I have to admit that after only meeting Jakken for a few minutes, you do have his mannerism down to a fine science.”

 

Noticing the woman's belonging slip from her grasp, the laughing boy immediately stopped his shenanigans and began to pick them up.

 

“You don't have to that!” Kagome stated hastily realizing just what he was about to touch.

 

“Nonsense, it was my fault. If I weren't acting the part of an ass, you wouldn't have dropped it to begin with. Besides, I should have known better. My dad keeps telling me that, perhaps that's why at this age I still haven't gotten married yet.” Putting the last of the wet clothes in the basket he continued, “He say's women don't marry men that make them laugh. They only laugh at them.”

 

Kagome smiled at the young man, “Perhaps you just haven't met the right woman yet?” She didn't honestly mean anything by it; she just felt that perhaps it was the right thing to say at the moment. Glancing around the field she thought she saw a flash of red, but upon further inspection disregarded it.

 

Grinning sheepishly he replied from his crouched position, “Oh, I've met her!” Looking away from her, he continued, “Well not officially, until today that is.”

 

Kagome didn't miss the blush staining his cheeks. Glancing away she silently prayed that he wasn't talking about her.

 

“There you go.” The young man stated as he stood up with the packages in one hand and the basket shoved securely beneath his right arm, “You were going home, right?”

 

“Uhm, yes, but I can carry it. It's not a problem.”

 

Handing her the two packages Nokio exclaimed as if insulted, “Oi, I was raised by humans! I have manners!”

 

The miko giggled at his soft jab at the toad's ungodly manners and let the young man walk her to the steps of her home. Stepping up on the first step she turned to face her escort, “Thank you for everything.”

 

“I assure you Kagome-sama, the pleasure was all mine.” He replied as he handed her the wicker basket with one hand while reaching up with his free hand and brushing away a stray strand of her hair that fell over her left eye. “If I knew that I wasn't being too forward, I would tell you that are indeed the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on.” His fingers lingered just a moment too long sending a guilty shiver down the miko's spine.

 

Kagome blushed and glanced around the clearing again. She knew this had to be some kind of joke or either this boy was just crazy, because there is no way he could really be here flirting with her on the steps of the home that she shared with the infamous hanyou. “Th…Thank you, but you know that…that I'm not available, right?”

 

Imitating that of someone that had just been shot in the heart the boy fell to his knees before her clutching his chest, his head lulling lazily to the side, “Oh she wounds me so!”

 

The miko giggled at his boyish antics. Maybe…just maybe this was what she needed. A few minutes…seconds without thinking about her problems…a few careless moments enjoying someone else's company. She knew this young man's childish crush would go nowhere, perhaps this once she could enjoy it. At least she didn't repulse him.

 

Squatting down she took his hand in hers and stated softly in a Shakespearian tone, “Oh Nokio, if only I had met you 4 years ago, but alas, my heart now and will forever belong to another.”

 

Realizing that she was willing to at least play along with him, Nokio brought her hand to his lip and kissed it, “My lady, the words that fall from your supple lips wounds me, but that will not stop me from admiring you from afar.”

 

Smiling sweetly down at the boy Kagome stated, “Thank you Nokio-kun for making me smile, when all I wanted to do was cry. For that you will always find a friend in me.”

 

Standing to his feet his eyes locked with hers, Nokio smiled back at her, “Then my job here is down, my lady.” Kissing her hand again he started to turn away then stopped and turned back around to face her, “Though I have only watched you smile from a distance and in passing, I must say, I really love seeing it.”

 

Blushing from ear to ear the miko bowed, “Why thank you Nokio-kun, it has been a pleasure.”

 

Sparing just another moment the young man winked at her and bowed then ran in the opposite direction from which he had come.

 

After watching the boy disappear down the path that led to the village, Kagome turned her attention back to her basket of wet clothes and the packages the Lady of the Western Lands had sent to her.

 

“I wonder what this is.” She whispered as she squeezed the package, “It's soft.” Dropping the basket Kagome walked into her bedroom while ripping the brown wrapping down the middle, “Oh Rin!” She exclaimed as she pulled the neatly folded garment from the first package.

 

A note fell to the floor, which the Miko quickly picked up and read.

 

Kagome-sama,

 

I wanted to give you something for working so diligently to save my life and the life of my child that I still carry, thanks to you. My mate informed me that you would be remaining in the village with Inuyasha. For that I am ever thankful, because now I truly believe that perhaps there is a chance that you and I will be able to bond as more than acquaintance's. I will pray that one day I will be able to call you sister and not just friend. However, until that day I wanted to send you these two Kimonos. The red and yellow one is for evening wear and the navy blue and powder blue one is for everyday wear. If you flip it inside out, you will see that you can wear it either way. (That was my love's idea.) So actually I am sending you 3 Kimono's. I know you will put these to good use and will take much pride when wearing them.

 

Please don't say that it's too much, because I will never be able to repay you, nor Inuyasha-kun for what you did for my baby and me.

 

P.S: I don't think my love, is that angry at Inuyasha-kun any longer, but he doesn't speak of it, so I don't know for sure. However, I would be most happy if the two of you would grace us with your presence at our mating ceremony. I will send Jakken with invites when the day draws nearer. Please give your mate a hug for me and tell him that I am forever indebted to him for his bravery.

 

Rin-sama, Lady of the Western Lands

 

 

Kagome smiled as she re-read the note once more. Tracing the beautifully written letters with the tips of her fingernails she sighed heavily, her finger lingering on the word, `Mate'. Why did this letter…a simple thank you note make her heart feel even more broken and heavy?

 

Was it because Rin was moving on with her life? Was it because neither she nor Sesshomaru seemed to be dwelling on the things of the past? Of did it just remind her of everything that she had been missing over the past few months?

 

`I…I miss him.' She thought as she covered her face with her hands and began to openly weep. “Inuyasha, I…I miss you.”

 

Even though he was still with her physically and there at her every beck and call. He really wasn't, was he? His heart, his mind, and his soul were not with her and that is what she missed the most.

 

 

Simonkal of Inuy

 

 

Time stood perfectly still as he sat in the trees watching her…watching her flirt and laugh with someone that wasn't him.

 

When was the last time that she laughed with or even at him? Why did she seem so comfortable with this boy?

 

Inuyasha hadn't intentionally come to spy on her, he had come to apologize…to talk to her…to find out why she had been so withdrawn over the past few months. He had come so that maybe they could salvage their relationship. Perhaps repair the gapping hole that had developed between them. He wanted to tell her about the voices and listen to what she had been trying to tell him.

 

He hadn't come here to see this, not this…never this!

 

Growling the hanyou watched the young man that was quickly overstepping his bounds hand her two packages then proceed to walk her to the home that he had built.

 

`Bastard! He's giving her gifts? Is she accepting them?'

 

Inuyasha had been spending the majority of his days for the past few months, helping Miroku build a home for him and Sango. When he wasn't helping him, he was trying to rebuild the well, in order to give his Miko peace of mind.

 

It had been at the Monks insistence that he come and talk to her. At first he was reluctant, he didn't know whether it would benefit them or if it would hurt them. But in the end he had swallowed his pride and came on faith that perhaps she would talk to him and maybe, just maybe tell him that she still loved him and though things had been strained between them, she still wanted to be with him.

 

The hanyou knew full well that it was his fault that the distance had grown between them. After he brought her back from the cave, he told himself that he would let her come to him, when she was ready, but instead of her coming, the voices came. They came back loud and vicious, eating at his mind, his heart, and his soul.

 

They tried to make him hate her for things she may have done. They showed him glimpses of tangled bodies, heated loving words, and glistening sweaty brows. They told him that she was useless…worthless…nothing more than a common tramp! Even as he watched her sleep they would tell him that she was dreaming about him, Jouyoku. When he saw her crying the voices told him that she was crying for him, the vile beast that had taken her.

 

In his heart he knew better, but as the days flew by and the months drove on, his heart grew weaker and the voices. The ever screaming…chanting noise that only he could hear grew louder and louder and harder and harder to ignore and control.

 

Inuyasha growled viciously as he watched the arrogant boy drop to his knees before Kagome and clutch his chest as if she had just wounded him somehow. He wanted to tear in there and rip that smile off his face. He wanted to reach into the idiots' chest and pull out his heart! But he couldn't! The voices…the voices told him that…she wasn't worth it!

 

`How could you? How could you betray me again?'

 

He wanted to turn away, but for the life of him, he couldn't. He tried to tell himself that it…this was nothing. It was innocent…she was innocent! She was doing nothing wrong! Then…then he saw her…watched her kneel before the boy with a smile that she at one time only reserved for him plastered on her flushed face.

 

The hanyou couldn't hear what they were saying, but he could see everything! He could see the blush that crept up her cheeks as she reached for the boys' hand and whispered things he couldn't comprehend. He could see the boy grin from ear to ear then happily stand to his feet. Then he watched with baited breath as the boy brought his Kagome's hand to his lips, and his heart broke…his mind snapped.

 

`Why?'

 

All the hanyou could see was her leaving him for that human. All he could hear was the hideous laughing of the voices in his head as they mocked him for his stupidity! Belittled him for being immature enough to believe that he could possibly have some kind of future with one such as her! They taunted him for showing her his heart and allowing her to use it against him!

 

Inuyasha stumbled back and dropped to his knees as things that he tried to fight… Images he wanted to ignore came flooding into his mind.

 

He saw her…his Kagome…the woman he wanted to be his mate, wrapped in the arms of a faceless nameless man! He saw her smiling at him, heard her thanking him for saving her from a wretched life with a half-breed!

 

His claws dug into the ground as he watched their bodies intertwine in a heated obscene show of lust! The bastard's hands were groping at her breast and gently squeezing her ass, while she ran her fingers sensually down the center of his chest and up the crest of his back.

 

“No.” He hissed as he violently shook his head trying to shake the visions loose. He didn't want to believe it! He knew it was just his imagination playing tricks on him, goading him to the point of no return! But how was he supposed to fight this when she was standing there proving them right?

 

“Slut”

 

No…no, she was not a slut she was his Kagome! She was what he had always wanted! She was the only woman other than his mother that he had cried for! He would not let her leave him, not again, not ever!

 

“You waste your pain on her! She doesn't care for you! Look at her! Look at her!” The voices demanded hatefully.

 

The hanyou's heart was torn. His mind was confused; all conscious rational thought was hidden beneath a thick fog of doubt and pain.

 

Standing slowly to his feet Inuyasha eyed the boy as he happily ran off headed in the direction of the village. He wanted to run him down and behead him for his trespasses, but that would have to wait.

 

Turning his attention to his obsession, the reason for the anger and pain coursing through his veins, he watched with heavily lidded eyes as she…the one who had betrayed him again, turned and entered the home that he had built with his own two hands.

 

“Teach her a lesson hanyou. Show her…show her that she cannot betray us at will! Punish her! We dare you!” The voices in his head hissed.

 

Stepping out of the forest he stood and stared at the door of his home for a long moment as if debating on what he would do next.

 

The voices were too strong and too loud for him to ignore any longer. Perhaps…perhaps they were right. Perhaps her betrayal would only cease after he punished her. He then slowly, quietly and methodically stalked down the path to his home…the path…the path of no return.

 

Maybe she didn't want to be with him, but he would not let someone else have her. She was his, whether she liked it or not! She belonged to him, and he would make sure she knew it.

 

“Teach the bitch. Teach her a lesson she'll never forget!” The voices hissed in unison and then there was silence, nothing but silence. No thoughts swirled around his tattered mind. No regrets, no wants, and no hesitation.

 

Until Next Time… (All reviews are greatly appreciated!! Last chapter coming soon!!)