InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Death, No Reason To Forget Love ❯ The Funeral / Slipped Away ( Chapter 10 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha! I only own the story! But wouldn't it be good if I did own the show? Or the manga? Hmm… Anyway, I hope you enjoy the final chapter! But besides my meaningless rambling, Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

Other note number one: This is the last chapter to this story, and I really appreciate all your support to the people who have been reading! *Hugs everyone and hands out cups of Ramen noodles* Party at my house if this goes well!

Other note number two: I also don't own the song "Slipped Away"! This song is owned and sung by Avril Lavigne. And although I really don't like her as a person, I have much respect for her songs.

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Death, No Reason To Forget Love

Chapter Ten: The Funeral/ "Slipped Away"

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'Mmmm…

No, no

Na, na, na, na, na'

It was 4:30 in the afternoon. The funeral started at five. Ms. Higurashi, Souta, and Inuyasha were already at the funeral home, however. Souta was walking around Kagome's closed casket, admiring the flowers that had been sent. Ms. Higurashi was near the back of the room, sitting on one of the cushioned chairs talking to the man who ran the funeral home. Inuyasha, however, stood right in front of the closed casket, his right hand slowly moving along the soft surface of the wood. A picture of Kagome in a high school photo had been placed on top of the casket.

"Kagome…" he whispered slowly, looking down at his outfit. Inuyasha was wearing his regular red kimono. It was useless when they were trying to find him something, for he would always damage it one way or another, not to mention his claws tore a number of things. Simply put, Souta won't have to worry about not getting any nice dress shirts or dress pants when he gets older since they had to buy a lot of ripped pairs… Inuyasha sighed sadly as he saw the dark red blotch on the light fabric-- Kagome's blood.

'I miss you

I miss you so bad

I don't forget you

Oh, it's so sad'

More people were starting to come in now and take their seats, trying to get as close to the casket as possible. Yuka, Eri, Ayumi and Hojo were also in the seats near the back of the room. They had heard the news of Kagome's death and had called the Higurashi residence the previous night to find out the horrible truth. Inuyasha ignored hushed whispers and mumbles about his outfit. This is what he was most comfortable in, and he wasn't trying to fool anyone, he could only be himself. He didn't even wear a hat to cover his ears. Souta and Ms. Higurashi were also sitting in the front row in the center seats, saving a seat for Inuyasha beside Souta. He saw the priest walk up to a small wooden podium beside the casket, and Inuyasha knew this was the time for him to sit down. "I love you, Kagome…" he said lightly as he bended down and kissed the casket, afterwards sitting down in the empty seat beside Souta, who said nothing to Inuyasha but only gave a weak smile.

'I hope you can hear me

I remember it clearly'

"We are here to bid our final farewells to a young girl we all knew, Kagome Higurashi. She wasn't that good in keeping up with her studies because of all the illnesses she had to face in her life, but all the less she was still known for her good attitude and joyfulness towards others…" the priest started. Inuyasha frowned as he leaned forward slightly, glancing over at Ms. Higurashi, who was already forming tears and dabbing a tissue to the corners of her eyes.

While the priest continued to talk, it all sounded like babbling to Inuyasha, who was lost in thought. His mind was once again filled with happy thoughts, like the soft tone to Kagome's voice, the happiness in her laughs, the softness of her lips. But then his mind went black for a second, his eyes narrowing as all he could think about was the color red, the color of blood. He then felt his hands clenching as he could hear Kagome cry out in pain, just like the day Naraku had attacked them surprisingly. The same day that so many demons had been called upon the group, their main target being Kagome. She never had time to reach for her bow and arrow, and Inuyasha was too focused on finding Naraku. It wasn't until after their little invasion was over that Inuyasha realized Kagome's condition, where he then quickly rushed her home, filled with guilt. He tried to keep her awake the best he could, only for her to fall into a deep coma where she had died not even a week later.

'The day you slipped away

Was the day I found it won't be the same

Oh

No, no

Na, na, na, na, na'

"And we have some speakers that would like to make their voices and opinions known," the priest said, looking out to everyone in the room, surprised that many people were actually standing in the back since all the seats had been taken. "Those people would be Ms. Nami Higurashi, who is Kagome's mother, and Inuyasha," he started, stopping as he heard murmurs through the small room. "…Who was Kagome's boyfriend." he finished, and could only roll his eyes as he heard Yuka exclaiming, along with scattered applause. Ms. Higurashi stood up and used her hands to flatten out the wrinkles on her skirt, before clearing her throat and walked up to the casket, resting her hand on it for a second before turning around to face everyone, tissue in hand. She started to speak, but again Inuyasha was too lost in remembrance to pay any attention.

'I didn't get around to kiss you

Goodbye on the hand

I wish that I could see you again

I know that I can't

Oh

I hope you can hear me

Because I remember it clearly

The day you slipped away

Was the day I found it won't be the same

Oh'

After what seemed like an hour, which was actually only about five minutes, loud clapping brought Inuyasha back into reality. Ms. Higurashi had finished speaking, and Souta had been beside her, hugging his sobbing mother tightly for comfort. The priest motioned for Inuyasha to come up as Ms. Higurashi and Souta sat back down in their seats, and he took a deep breath before walking to the casket, turning around to face everyone.

"As you all may know, Kagome was very special to me." Inuyasha started with a strong voice, ignoring the "Aww's" he was receiving. He looked down to the casket, walking over to where Kagome's head was under the cushioned bed covered by wood. "She was my best friend, and I loved her very much. Kagome was always there for me, during the good times and the bad. Whenever I needed somebody to talk to, Kagome was there. Whenever I needed someone to yell at, to protect, to just love as a person, Kagome was there." Inuyasha now felt tears stinging the corners of his own eyes, and he shut them as his hand trailed across the side of the casket, stopping as he grasped the handle.

His next movement made everyone exclaim, as he held the handle tightly in his hand and slowly opened the casket. The photo on the casket fell to the floor, and the glass inside the frame shattered to a thousand pieces. Men were cursing while women screaming, pandemonium breaking loose. Ms. Higurashi stood up and whistled loudly, in which everyone sat back down, silent. (A/N: Okay, that's a little weird but… Sorry!)

Inuyasha bit his lower lip as he saw the lifeless, limp body of Kagome lie in the padded casket in front of him. He could almost feel her pain as he looked at all the bruises and deep gashes and cuts embedded in her skin. Kagome had been wearing a dark blue kimono, with her arms folded across her chest, her white rose tucked into the kimono near the neck. Inuyasha reached inside the casket, and took a hold of Kagome's cold fingers as he reached in, kissing her on the forehead. "Kagome…" he whispered again, this time tears falling down his cheeks, onto the soft skin of her face.

'I've had my wakeup

Won't you wake up?

I keep asking why

And I can't take it

It wasn't fake

It happened, you passed by'

Inuyasha then tried to look into Kagome's eyes, only to remember that they would be forever shut. He sighed, and kissed her softly on the lips before pulling away, then running a clawed fingertip slowly over her lips, wishing Kagome a farewell. Taking a step backwards, Inuyasha once again reached in and removed the white rose from her neck, and replaced it with his red rose. He then took the handle again and closed the casket, swearing that he could hear Kagome whisper his name one last time. He turned to look around to everyone's surprised faces, and closed his hand with the white rose and placed it over his chest across his heart. "…And that's all I have to say." he said softly, sitting down, embarrassed.

'Now you're gone

Now you're gone

There you go

There you go

Somewhere I can't bring you back

Now you're gone

Now you're gone

There you go

There you go

Somewhere you're not coming back'

About twenty minutes later, the ceremony was over and everyone left the small room and packed into their cars to head to the cemetery. Although it was raining outside heavily, Inuyasha kept by the casket as much as he could. Sure, there was a little makeshift roof put on top of them for the ceremony, but everyone still got wet nonetheless from wind blowing the rain inside. He was the last one to put a rose on her casket, but it was the special white rose he had received previously, from the very same bouquet Kagome was grasping as she passed on. He smiled to himself slightly, the white rose being beautiful while being placed on the top of a large pile of red ones. After refusing to leave, Inuyasha was the last one to see the casket before it sunk slowly into the ground. He was the last one to wish her good luck on the other side; the last one to leave the cemetery, and the last and only person that Kagome's spirit remained with.

'The day you slipped away

Was the day I found it won't be the same

Oh

The day you slipped away

Was the day that I found it won't be the same

Oh

No, no.

Na, na, na, na, na

I miss you.'

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The end. What'd you guys think of it? I know I really worked hard on this story, and I cried many times writing it! I'd like to know all of your honest opinions!