InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Side of the Moon ❯ Ripples from the Past ( Chapter 2 )

Meg: Yay! My Muse is dosing me regularly with inspiration! That is good for you, my reader-friends!

Muse: …You think this is regular?

Meg: You mean it's not? You've just been being nice? Oh boy…@__@

Muse: *sigh* Sure, whatever. I only get generous when you don't pester me. School is a good thing! For me at least…

Meg: O__o + What? That's because YOU don't have to be there at 7:15 in the morning! You show up sometime after lunch in Math class!

Muse: So? It's not MY job to learn stuff! You're the one that writes all of this stuff down! And I was in French class on Friday!! Remember that fortress on that video?? That was ME!!

Meg: e__e That's AFTER math class, thankyouverymuch…

Muse: * sticks out tongue and pouts *

Title: Dark Side of the Moon

Rating: R

Obsession: Inuyasha

Genre: Dark, angsty stuff. Lots of it. And a teeny, weenie bit of romance.

Main characters: Kagome (duh!), Naraku, Miroku and Inuyasha (sort of). May be others later.

Summary: Check the first Chapter!

Feedback: Duh!!

Author's Note: Well, I think I've decided on a pairing. But I'm not gonna tell you until the next chapter. Maybe. Yes, I am evil. I haven't edited this chapter yet, so point out any mistakes that irk you or confuse you. I tend to make those kinds of boo-boos. By the way, there will be a little more than just a teeny, weenie bit of romance. Most of the plot is sorta based on love…or lack thereof…to certain persons. ^__^ Darn, I kinda just gave you a clue to the pairing! LoL….well, I won't say anything if you won't. ^___^

Dark Side of the Moon

By: Meg

Chapter 2

It seemed like thousands of years had passed; time and change go by slowly with grief. In reality, it had been only a month. Kagome had returned to her own era and now sat beneath the towering God Tree. Her life returned to the way it used to be. School was a normal occurrence again. Instead of running off to fight demons and collect shards, she spent her weekends and afternoons studying and hanging out with her friends. She was even catching up in her studies with help from Hojo.

She watched the ancient tree's limbs sway and groan against the wind. She had told her family the outcome of the final battle. They hugged her and tried to reassure her that it would be all right. Sota, her younger brother, had even cried when he'd heard of Inuyasha's death; even if he hadn't wanted to admit it, she could tell. Later that same evening, her family had lit candles and incense in the well house to honor them. Her family also feared for her safety, but Kagome had reassured them that it was impossible for Naraku to find her and for her to leave this era. After all, the Jewel had been her only link and it was now gone.

She had often wondered if that were actually true. She knew her family would believe it; she had wanted to believe it so badly. Now she hoped that she was right. Had Naraku known about the well? Could he pass through it if he found it? Kagome wondered if he was alive in this time. If he was, then was all of her loss for nothing? Had they all been destined to fail? She leaned back against the stone bench she sat on and watched the stars twinkle in the dark sky.

During that long month, she had lost her will to rise every morning. She had spent the first few days at home, floating through the house like a specter. Most nights she didn't even sleep; when she did, she discovered that it was impossible sleep anywhere but on the floor beside her bed. She had spent most of the last three years or so sleeping outside on the ground, which was enough to change her sleeping habits. When she did manage to sleep, nightmares hunted her. Horrible pictures flashed over her mind, filled with violence, anger and pain. Always the face of Naraku leered at her, standing over her. Once she was fortunate enough to wake, she would rise and leave the house to cross the grounds to the God Tree. Then, like now, she would sit and remember the past. The tree helped her remember; sometimes she cried, but most times, good things returned to her and she would smile.

It was also during this time that she had revealed exclusively to her three friends of her visits to the past. She told them at different instances about the senseless arguments with Inuyasha and the very amusing antics of Miroku and Sango. Naturally, her friends hadn't believed her; they congratulated Kagome on her imagination and then sent her on a date with Hojo to bring her back to Earth. "It's for your own good!" they had said.

She inwardly scoffed. My own good, she mused cynically.

Of course, she hadn't expected anyone to really believe her. After all, their nïave and simpleminded natures had believed all of the fake illnesses her grandfather provided. Nevertheless, the friends she had known for the longest time hadn't taken her story seriously and offered no comfort.

But, despite everything, there was a ray of hope that reached her as she sat beneath the ancient tree at night. She could possibly be on the road towards healing. The scars may never heal completely; a part of her didn't want them to.

She felt the side of her neck with her fingertips, brushing them against the small scar there. The cut Naraku had made also left a physical scar. She had once found herself touching it without knowing until Eri had asked her what she was doing. The small mark was tiny and barely noticeable; even she hadn't seen it at first.

She pulled her knees up and rested her chin on them. The years she had spent with her friends had made her grow up. She was now an adult and had matured both physically and mentally over that time. But now, she felt small again, like when she had first returned to her time after discovering the well's secret; she had become much more thankful for her family then and that she had been able to return to them. Now her other family was gone and disconnected from her like a dream, vivid in memory and yet still doubting it.

She had begun to spend increasingly more time in the past within the last year. The Feudal Era had even begun to feel like home did. It was enough so that her present time's progress and technology felt awkward to her. Tokyo didn't have the sprawling green fields and groves that the past had. She almost wished she could have stayed in the past. Perhaps she would have, if not for Naraku's threat. Kagome looked up at the scar on the tree that Inuyasha's long presence had caused. She damned Naraku again for stealing the precious future of both herself and Inuyasha.

She took one more full glance at the towering tree and stood. She began to walk back towards the house across the grounds and to her room in order to try to sleep the remainder of the night. She walked, bowing her head, until she went by the old well house. Kagome hadn't actually meant to but her feet seemed to refuse to go any further. She looked back at the well and with out even completely realizing it, began to walk towards it.

Hesitantly, she looked through the lattice paneling of the door, but found only inky darkness inside. There was something that seemed to want to pull her inside. She didn't want to go in, but she didn't want to be eaten alive by her own intense curiosity. She bit her lip in contemplation and decidedly reached out to open the door. Before she could even touch it, the door sprung to life and opened itself. She let out a gasp and jumped, taking a step backwards. Her heart pounded in her chest and rang in her ears. The small well house seemed darker than usual and more unwelcoming than she remembered.

A small creak sounded inside the darkness and she gasped, fear beginning to root itself in her mind. Shoving aside her curiosity, she turned and ran towards her house as fast as she could. Another creak was faintly heard as she had turned, but she didn't have the courage to look behind her. She hurried through the front door and quickly locked it before running up the stairs to her room. After closing her door and effectively locking it as well, she sat on her bed and tried to catch her breath. Her blood still pounded in her veins, hammering through her heart along side adrenaline. Cautiously, she looked behind to her window and chanced a look outside. The door to the well house was still ajar. She glued her eyes to the small shack.

Moments passed by and with each uneventful second, some rationality returned to her. It was probably just Buyo…it had to have been…but what about the door? Minutes passed. I've got to be paranoid, she finally concluded.

She began to turn away from the window in order to try to sleep, but she froze when she caught movement in the corner of her eye. She looked back at the ancient well house and her panic flared back to life. Fear clutched her heart with its icy digits and both sped up and stopped her blood all at once. Her palms began to sweat; her breaths came in short, quick pulses; lightheadedness was beginning to reach her. Her eyes lids were drooping and the room was beginning to spin all at once. She reached out for something to anchor herself with, but found nothing. She lost her own balance and tumbled backwards onto the floor. The wind rushed out of her lungs and dots colored her vision. Kagome gave out a small moan of pain. Trying to regain her lost senses, she chased after her breath as well as she could. She slowly twisted onto her hands and knees and crept up to her bed in order to see outside of her window.

She must have been hallucinating. Her lack of sleep must have caught up with her and tricked her eyes into seeing what couldn't possibly be real.

No matter how many times she tried to rationalize it, her eyes wouldn't deceive her twice. The well house door had been shut, by whatever creature was inside of that small shack.

Her heart was beating out of control inside of her chest and the comforter was getting clammy with the sweat on her hands. Her fear caused tears to spring to her eyes.

No, it can't be, she thought.

He shouldn't be able to pass through. The jewel was gone. Even she couldn't pass through time. This was her time, her home. Even fate must have known that. She tried to grab a hold on her pink comforter as the room spun again and shut her eyes tightly. Tears were welling up in her eyes and threatened to fall down her face. Fear was making her mind race.

Kagome…

She nearly screamed. No, this wasn't happening! He couldn't possibly be able to cross time!

This is impossible, she thought to herself. This isn't happening…

Her breaths became even more erratic and she held onto her bed for her life. The room spun again, only faster. If it didn't stop soon, she was sure she'd throw up.

"Kagome."

She hadn't been sure if she had heard his voice or his projected thoughts. "No," she moaned; the tears that had been pricking her eyes were ready to fall down her face.

" You have very little time left…"

She whimpered aloud and felt her nails digging through her bedding and into her palms. " Go away," she told him weakly, nearly choking on the lump in her throat.

The response she heard was a low, satisfied chuckle. " You have to come back to me," he told her.

" No, I won't do it!" she said, but only a little louder.

" Yes, you will. I have something that belongs to you…and you want it back, don't you?"

She whimpered again, hugging the pink comforter of her bed to her fiercely. She heard him laugh again like before; he was enjoying this. The tears finally fell and the drops stained the pink bedding. His voice rang in her ears like her pounding heart. Images of the fallen Inuyasha filled her mind and sadness welled up in her throat. His laugh echoed in the darkness and burned into her memory. Time passed by and the sound of his laugh seemed to fade away and lovely, wholesome silence began to build itself around her again.

Her nausea began to lessen and she took in a long, shaky breath. She opened her eyes and saw some of the pre-dawn light coloring the sky a dark, lavender color. Some of her vice like grip lessened and she tried to stand up. As soon as she stood on her legs, fatigue hit her and she nearly fell back to the ground. She leaned against the side of her bed heavily. Sleep beckoned her and wouldn't allow her to ignore its deep, smooth call. Was this Naraku's doing? Why would he make her sleep?

Thoughts began to lose their words until they floated around and were only senses. She began to sink to her knees again once she managed to stand up fully. Before long, she was on her hands and knees. "Naraku," seemed to be the only thing that emerged from her muddled mind and past her lips.

Within a moment, she collapsed and passed out on her bedroom floor, sprawled across the carpet.

* * *

When she woke again, Kagome felt herself lying on something soft and comfortable, with blankets covering her. She moved and opened her eyes, but then groaned when sunlight blinded her. She felt sleep trying to control her again, but she heard someone speak, " You're awake! We were so worried, Kagome! You slept for nearly a day!"

At first the voice drifted over her ears and she thought she might have heard Shippou, but upon turning and opening her eyes again, she found her younger brother, Sota, standing by her bedside. Why is he watching me sleep?

Her younger brother hugged her as she lay in bed. " Kagome," he said feebly, " I'm so glad you're okay."

She hugged him back while thinking of the young fox child. How she missed him so; he had been the sweetest she'd even known. She knew that he looked to her as a mother and it hurt her deeply that she had failed him, perhaps more so than Inuyasha's loss. She hugged her brother tightly remembering Shippou and as a result, felt the pricking of tears in her eyes. When Sota pulled back from her embrace, she smiled at him as best she could. There was no sense in making her younger brother worry for her. " I'm fine. I just haven't been sleeping well lately. It must have caught up with me." Her voice had become softer than usual and her tone sadder. This did not go unnoticed by her brother.

There was a quiet moment between them before he spoke to her. He voice was low and soft, as though the walls had ears, " There's something strange going on."

" Like what?" she asked. She smiled, wanting to fight off the thought that whatever her brother was going to tell her might have something to do with Naraku. Denial was a lovely little bubble to live in.

" Well, even Buyo won't go into the well house anymore. Grandpa's convinced that there's an evil spirit near by. He put ofudas all over the place, even on your door! He wanted to re-wallpaper your room, but Mom wouldn't let him inside."

Kagome stiffened. So, I wasn't dreaming…

She hugged her little brother again. " We were worried about you, too. We heard you scream but when we came to your door, it was locked. Mom had to take off the doorknob to get in. We found you asleep on the floor. She put you in bed and we've been waiting for you to wake up again. Did you have another nightmare?"

Kagome, having thought back, couldn't remember dreaming anything. One second she was asleep and the next, she was waking up. It had been the first peaceful sleep in a long time.

" Mom wanted me to check on you. Dinner is almost ready. She made Odon."

Kagome's face cracked into a smile. Her little brother seemed to have expected a more spirited reaction, but Kagome only smiled. " Great! I'll be down soon," she told him as cheerfully as she could.

Her brother gave a nod, but he seemed disappointed. Sota then left his sister's room.

~*~

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