InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Desert Rose ❯ Doubt ( Chapter 24 )

Forgive me for being a sap but I was watching Thumbelina so if at some point it gets a bit corny, well don't say I didn't warn you!

 

Getting closer to the end here…sigh. You know I can't believe that this was my first story ever. I mean I went back and read some of the earlier chapters over and I thought it was crap! If I could write it over, maybe it wouldn't be so horrible. Heh…

 

I wanted to show Kagome's concern for her future in this chapter. So this portion of the story basically depicts her internal struggle within herself to find an answer.

 

 

Chapter Twenty-Four: Doubt

 

Inuyasha sat on the bed, staring the child whose head rested against his shoulder. Her eyes were closed and a trail of shining tears had made its way down her red cheeks. Even so, she slept peacefully against him. He sighed, leaning back on the wall that the bed was placed next to, resting his emotionally tired mind. He beckoned for Kagome to come by him and she slipped off the chair coming silently to sit next to him.

 

He felt the bed dip as she crawled near. A wash of happiness and despair had come over him and he was sure she had felt it too. Silva didn't let him go for minutes on end, just sobbing into his shirt. He too had been reluctant to let her go. The moment would have been perfect if Silva hadn't leaned away from him. He replayed that moment again and again in his mind's eye.

 

He'd hugged her close to him, feeling his eyes fill. “Silva, I'm sorry.” He said.

 

“What for?”

 

“For everything. I'm so sorry.”

 

“Oh. I'm sorry too.”

 

Inuyasha held still. “Why?”

 

Silva looked up at him. “Have I been a good girl?” She asked, whipping her eyes with her sleeve and sniffing.

 

“Yeah,” he said ruffling her hair, “a very good girl.”

 

Silva sobbed, covering her eyes. “N-no I haven't. I've been very bad…I listened to the bad people, I hurt the tree, I…”

 

“That wasn't you.” He said gently.

 

“But I did bad things…”

 

“Did you want to do those things?”

 

“No!” Silva screamed, her eyes wide and pleading.

 

“Then it's not your fault. It's the bad guys' fault.” He said softly.

 

“But…”

 

“You don't believe me? I'm not mad at you.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes, really. If you want to make up for it, promise to be a good girl from now on.” He patted her silver head, watching as her ears swiveled in his attention. Silva nodded.

 

“Papa?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Will you go and get Ayleena too?”

 

Inuyasha's heart gave a throb. If only she hadn't asked that question. He had been overjoyed with her reaction to him, but fearful of answering this one query. He knew she would have said something about it. How could he explain to her that her younger sister was gone? It had been almost unbearable for her to hear that her mother was never returning. How could he tell her that her sister would never come back also?

 

“Silva, Ayla is…” He began slowly. Silva's eyes widened and she shook her head.

 

“No, she's not!” She screeched.

 

“Silva, listen…”

 

“She's still here!” Silva pointed to her chest. “I know she's somewhere! I know she is.”

 

Inuyasha looked down again as Silva moaned. It hadn't been long after her outbreak that she had fallen asleep. He couldn't bear hearing the pain in her voice when she refused to acknowledge Ayla's death. Silva had more or less forgiven him, yet he couldn't stop the remorse. Inuyasha wrapped his mind around his other daughter and how he was sure that he had seen her in his father's tomb. Ayla was there in his heart, but also in his guilt and mind.

 

“Inuyasha?” He turned to look at Kagome as she stared sympathetically.

 

“I'm fine. Just tired.” He said. Kagome shook her head. His irises were glassy, but the tears wouldn't fall.

 

“I mean about Ayla.”

 

Inuyasha lowered his eyes. “I was afraid she'd ask. I'm not surprised she doesn't want to believe it.”

 

“Still, I'm glad that you two are together again.”

 

“Kagome…”

 

“What is it?”

 

Inuyasha stared at her for a few moments. “Never mind.”

 

Kagome crossed her arms. “Don't leave me in suspense like that. C'mon tell me.” She pushed playfully at his shoulder, noticing him wince. She pulled her hand back immediately. “Does it still hurt? Your arm?”

 

“Every once in a while.” He answered.

 

“I thought it would have healed by now.” Kagome said, touching her upper shoulder. The wound she had received from that fight had long since healed, but it was still a little sore. Why did Inuyasha's wound take longer to recover than her own? She looked back up at him to see that he was staring at the opposite wall, a serious look on his face.

 

“Inuyasha?”

 

“Plans have been made to invade Eastern Domain.” He said.

 

Kagome was slightly taken aback. “When?”

 

“Soon. It's the only course we have left. Either we invade and stop them at the source or our lives are in danger. It's a really reckless plan, even I know that, but our choices are really limited. Naraku is already searching for us. The sooner we react the better.”

 

“So who's leading the invasion? Sesshoumaru?”

 

“No,” Inuyasha shook his head, “Jordan has decided that Sesshoumaru has to stay here. I think he only agreed because he knows that the people will be protected with him here. We are taking most of the guard after all. He will stop time for us so we can sneak inside. Miroku, Sango, Jordan, Sarina and Suzuna will each lead a party of soldiers into the battleground.”

 

“What about us?” Kagome questioned.

 

“You, me and a few others will try and get into the castle to get rid of Naraku. Miroku and everyone else will be our cover. It's not a very full proof plan. A lot of things can go wrong.”

 

“Inuyasha, if we're there, who is going to watch over Silva?”

 

“Sesshoumaru will. If he could handle Rin, I'm sure he can handle Silva too. Though I'm not sure about leaving her here alone.”

 

“I think she'll be fine. She's got her uncle and her friends.”

 

“You're right.” He breathed in. “I'm still not so sure about our plan. I'm guessing we have less then a few weeks to get ready. We'd probably start in the early morning, while it's still dark.”

 

“Why not just start at night?”

 

“Jordan believes that guards are more on edge at night. She says they will become calmer as sunrise comes near. Besides, they say it's always darkest before dawn. We are to work our way into their territory, killing or taking over any guards in the outer area. We can't let anyone go back to warn the people in the capitol. Also, all this has to be finished within ten days.”

 

“Ten days? Why then days? That's not a lot of time Inuyasha.”

 

“I know, but soon it will be another full moon. According to Jordan, that's the perfect time for spell weaving. She thinks that they will make the spell permanent by then.”

 

“When the war is over, can we reverse the spell? You know, make everything back to the way it was before?” Kagome asked.

 

“I don't know. If we knew how the spell was cast maybe we could find the counter one to fix it. The only thing I can think of would be to plant another tree of years, but it will be hard to find soil good enough for it now that everything is sand.”

 

Kagome sighed, lying down and supporting her chin with her palm. “What a dilemma. So no pressure, right?” She said sarcastically.

 

“Yeah no pressure at all.” Inuyasha smiled wryly.

 

“So do you think that the world will be back to normal after this?”

 

“That depends on what's considered normal. Before this there was a twenty-year war. I don't think I would want to relive that war. I wouldn't want to go back to that period before the that either.”

 

“Why not?” Kagome leaned on her elbows so she could get a better view of his face.

 

“I'm pretty sure that you went into the Mirror of Memories and saw it. My past.” Kagome frowned guiltily.

 

“I was trying to find out how you lost your heart at the time.” She said.

 

“It's okay. It doesn't matter anymore.” He said dismissively.

 

“So why wouldn't you go back to that time?”

 

“I wasn't accepted as what I am till after the war. There's no way in hell I would go back to that, much less expose Silva to it.” Of course, the discrimination, Kagome thought. She chastised herself for failing to remember.

 

“So what do you want after all this is over?” Kagome asked.

 

“What I want? I never really thought about that. Actually, I want time to stand still: I don't want tomorrow or yesterday. All I want is right now.” Inuyasha held Silva's tiny hand, intertwining his adult fingers with her tiny ones. “What would you do after the war?” He asked, looking at Kagome.

 

“I don't know. I guess I don't want to talk about it either.” She said, a distant and slightly perturbed expression on her face.

 

“Would you…want to go home still?” Inuyasha asked, looking back to his daughter's sleeping face.

 

Kagome went still, not answering. She still wasn't sure. In the beginning months she was here, and shortly after she had undergone training with Jordan, all she could think about was acting perfectly as Inuyasha's host, to make him win this war so she could go home. Now she wasn't so certain and as the end of war came closer, she was finding her decision harder to make.

 

On one side, she wasn't born here. She was much of an outsider. It was lucky enough that their language was similar. However, this place already felt like home, and she had friends here who cared for her. She could see the greatness of giving up what she had in her own world. She missed her family dearly. There were several nights she would see her mother in her dreams.

 

Kagome wondered if she could get her life back on track if she did go home. She had been gone for months, more than half a year in fact. Would they already think that she had gone for good? How could she make up an entire semester of school? Kagome shuddered at the thought. It didn't sound at all appealing. She almost laughed aloud, remembering how excited she had been to go on her first date and how her friends had teased her for being so pure. Now though, Kagome blushed. She had gone far beyond what one innocent date was suggesting. It seemed so distant. That day in early summer, walking and laughing with her three friends. It was like a long lost memory.

 

She recalled her reaction to suddenly appearing in the desert. At the time, she couldn't believe her life would end in such a dull way, dying slowly from dehydration under the scorching sun. Kagome stole a glance at Inuyasha, remembering how he had surprised her when they first met. She thought he had been some bandit, his face covered in white cloth. Of course, he had been much more arrogant and forward back then. Now though an air of seriousness and light sorrow covered him.

 

He has changed so much, Kagome reflected. Before with the cocky, egotistic jerk, he loved to tease her. Then his uplifting presence was gone for almost three months when she began her training under Jordan. He became slightly more serious when he returned to claim her as his new host. Soon though, he became angrier and more impatient as Kagome searched for his missing heart. Then, after his heart returned, he began distancing himself from her. He was still a little obnoxious, but he seemed a little kinder, a little more…human like. Soon his detachment from her became worry and sorrow; sorrow because of his remembrance of his history and worry for repeating his past mistakes. As Kagome looked at him now, she found that he was more mature, serious, and slightly upset but he was beginning to cope. Ever since the start he was always changing.

 

“Kagome?” Inuyasha called, waving his hand in front of her face.

 

“Hey Inuyasha, have I changed?” She looked into his eyes to see them narrow. He looked perplexed.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“You know, what was I like back when I first came to this world.”

 

“Back when we first met huh? Hmm…I'd say,” he smirked, “you were an idiot.”

 

Kagome rose to a sit. “Hey!”

 

“Think about it. You wouldn't listen to me back then. Well you don't really listen right now either but back then you didn't believe that I knew what was best. You went out at night into a camp that was filled with war soldiers and got yourself attacked.”

 

“Okay, I admit that was stupid.” Kagome blushed.

 

“You were also really reckless. You almost fell out of the red tower back home.”

 

“That was an accident.”

 

“And that time you disappeared and reappeared at the border.”

 

“Okay, I get the point!”

 

“And when you vanished and appeared in Northern Domain.”

 

“Stop!”

 

“And how you would always complain about camel rides.” He said, grinning evilly.

 

“Knock it off!”

 

“And that time you-” Kagome covered his mouth with her hand. “I get it, you can stop now.” She glowered. Inuyasha raised his brows at her, sending her an annoyed look before something moist and hot ran over her palm. Kagome pulled her hand back, shacking it.

 

“Eww, Inuyasha!” She growled indignantly.

 

“Shh!” He pointed to Silva in his lap. Kagome blushed, mortified, and then whispered. “Well it was your fault!”

 

Inuyasha laughed and became stern again. “I have to admit though, you're not as helpless as you were back then.” He said, shifting Kagome's anger to curiosity.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I mean that you took the time to learn to fight and defend yourself. To be honest I thought you would be dead weight.”

 

“Oh gee, thank you.” Kagome said sarcastically.

 

“But I don't think that now.” He said honestly, hastily, eyeing the unhappy look on her face. “You've…” He paused, searching for the words. “You've really helped me a lot. I don't think I would have come to terms with my past if you hadn't found my heart. I don't think I could have saved Silva either or gathered the guts to see her. Thank you.”

 

Kagome blushed. “You're welcome.”

 

He let out a breath, as though he had been anxiously anticipating her reply. Then he rested his head against the wall. “You didn't answer my question.” He said.

 

Kagome tilted her head to the side. “What question?”

 

“I asked you if you still wanted to go home.”

 

Kagome remained quiet for a moment before she said, “I don't know myself.”

 

“Don't you miss your family, your friends?”

 

“I do. You know what, I don't want to talk about the future either. I'd rather just have now.”

 

Inuyasha picked up Silva, tenderly placing her sleeping body under the fur blanket. He then stretched his arms over his head, squeezing his eyes shut. “I could use some sleep.” He huffed, removing his over robe and throwing it across the room.

 

“Slob.” Kagome giggled under her breath.

 

“I heard that.” He puffed.

 

“So you're going to sleep here?” Kagome asked, slightly nervous.

 

“Is that a problem?”

 

“What about Silva?”

 

Inuyasha laughed. “She used to run into my room whenever she was scared, usually with her sister following. I'm used to it.”

 

“Suddenly confident huh?” Kagome asked knowingly.

 

“Well, I have you to thank.” He grinned.

 

Sighing, Kagome removed her jacket, crawling under the soft fur as he did the same. Silva slumbered silently between them. When Kagome settled herself in, Silva moved in her sleep, cradling closer to her. Kagome smiled, placing her arm around the little girl's back. She inched closer to Inuyasha, Silva in between, and he draped his long arm over both of them.

 

()()()()()()()

 

Blue lilies, red roses, golden water lilacs, which to pick? She looked around the underwater garden pushing her black locks out of her eyes as her hair swirled around her face. Would this finally be the day? Would she find that elusive silver flower her sister always spoke of?

 

She looked at the pouch hooked over her elbow: a few healthy, aqua roses, black daffodils, some red peonies, and one freesia. Her bouquet would be perfect if she could only find that platinum rose. She pushed herself to the surface, breathing in a refreshing tuft of air before diving back inside.

 

The plants moved around, swaying back and forth as if dancing to some silent music. She swam past the flowers she had already collected, her eyes scanning the colorful, shining, under water utopia. Some fish swam with her, around the flowers, decorating the scene with bubbles, yet only adding to her distress. The magic and rare, silver rose did not appear. Shaking her head, she swam back to the surface, making her way back toward the shore, where he sister stood waiting.

 

“Still looking for that flower?” The elder girl said as she arrived, helping her stand on the rocky ground. “Why don't you give up? It's only a legend.”

 

“It's real, I know it is!”

 

“But it's only from a story.” The elder girl countered.

 

“I'll find it!”

 

 

Kagome opened her eyes, sitting up. That dream again, she thought. Several nights and she kept having that same dream. Why was she experiencing memories and seeing images that didn't belong to her? She leaned on her elbows. Who was that girl that kept looking for a mysterious flower? And her sister seemed so familiar…Kagome sighed. All this confusion about whether she would stay or leave and now she starts having strange dreams.

 

Light flashed from the window and Kagome gasped the same time the sky roared and Silva let out a high wail. Inuyasha yelped and jumped up, covering his ears the exact moment his daughter grabbed his waist, hiding her face in his torso. Another crash of thunder echoed through the small room from outside. Kagome shuddered and Silva cried.

 

“Make it stop!” She sobbed.

 

Inuyasha smiled, patting her head. “It's just thunder, Silva.” He said.

 

“I don't like it!” She cried. “It's loud!”

 

Kagome cringed as another flash and a burst of rumble shook the room. Silva sniffed and squeezed her father's waist. He gritted his teeth but managed to take in a deep breath, holding Silva by the arms and lifting her so she could hold onto his shoulders. “It's only a sound.” He said soothingly, rubbing her back.

 

Kagome covered her ears, trying to block out the cacophony. She closed her eyes, but could still feel the flash of lightning and the shock of thunder. The sky let out a terrifying bellow and Kagome, instinctively, clung to the closest security she could find: Inuyasha. He was slightly pushed back when Kagome hid her face in his shoulder, holding onto his arm.

 

“Don't tell me you're afraid of it too!” He huffed in exasperation.

 

“I can't help it, I hate thunder!” She squeaked.

 

His shoulders slumped. He tried to move Silva from his shoulders, but she wouldn't let go from the vice grip she had on him. “Silva let go.”

 

“No!” She growled stubbornly as he reached for her hand. Prying her fingers, he said, “Will you be brave and calm Kagome down?”

 

Silva turned her big, watery eyes at him then nodded shyly, moving to sit in Kagome's lap and patting her reassuringly on her knee. Inuyasha managed to pull his arm, which was stinging slightly because Kagome had gripped it so tightly, away from her. He made her place her head on his shoulder. Silva tugged the older girl's shirt and Kagome tucked the child's head under her chin, wrapping her arms around her.

 

Inuyasha fastened his now free arm on Kagome's back, the other around her front. Silva rested beside Kagome's chest. Another clasp of lightning and a howl of wind rushed into the room, but Silva paid no attention to it, cuddled safely between her father and the girl she had come to trust. Kagome didn't stir either.

 

“Feeling better?” Silva asked. Kagome nodded. She forgot about the dream, the sorrow of her tough choice, and the storm.

 

()()()()()()()

 

“About three and a half weeks before the next full moon. We have to be ready till then.” Jordan said from across the room as she tried her best to make a crumpled up paper lay flat.

 

“Stupid piece of rubbish.” She cursed under her breath as she finally made it lie flat on the table, supported by heavy rocks at the corners. “Now this is all from memory, but it's the closest I could make from the old documents back home.” She said to the two brothers on the other side of the room.

 

“I only went there as a child once, but I do remember seeing the maps. I hope you remember the terrain better then I do Inuyasha. We could use another reference to go on.” Jordan said as she started drawing lines on the papers.

 

Inuyasha came to stand at her side. Pointing to the center he said, “I think the capitol was two hundred miles or so beyond our border. There are places where sandstorms happen often.”

 

“Two hundred miles…hmm. We have about four days to lay waste to the battalions of the military camps surrounding the capitol. We have to make sure there are no reinforcements heading back to protect the capitol. Also, it would be wise to avoid those areas prone to sandstorms.” Jordan said as she measured the paper into fourths.

 

She pointed toward the first segment of the map. “If we are lucky, and if there aren't too many injured after taking out the soldiers of the surrounding area, the rest of the able warriors will try to assist those infiltrating the capitol.”

 

“So I won't be heading straight into the capitol?” Inuyasha stole a glance at his sword.

 

“No. You will wait till the guards around are dead or captured. Make sure you get inside during early morning.” Jordan looked up at Sesshoumaru. “Will you be able to stop time at this distance?”

 

“I'm afraid not. I can stop time for several hours when you leave here but I can't concentrate at this distance without freezing you along with it.” He answered.

 

“That's a bit of a disadvantage, but I suppose it can't be helped.” Jordan breathed.

 

“So you head to the source of the problem?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“Yes. Our top priority is to kill Naraku. We must also eliminate his commanding officers. If Naraku is sill utilizing power from stolen hearts, then we would have to destroy any heart we come by.” Jordan stopped for a moment. “It may be cruel, but we have to do what we must.”

 

“This is going to leave a bad taste in my mouth.” Inuyasha sighed.

 

“It can't be helped. Besides the bodies of the people those hearts belonged to will have already wasted away. There's little we can do to save them besides liberating their souls from their physical cage.” Jordan closed her eyes.

 

“Even so, the situation does deserve some sympathy.” Sesshoumaru said.

 

Inuyasha raised his brows. “That's sounds so weird coming from you.”

 

“Oh? I suggest you shut that rude mouth of yours before you find yourself with another windpipe.”

 

“Enough!” Jordan ordered. “Focus on the task at hand.”

 

“My apologies.” Sesshoumaru said, unfazed.

 

“Keh!” Inuyasha puffed.

 

()()()()()()()

 

Silva reached for the apple in Kagome's outstretched hand, whipping the fruit on her shirt when she took it. Kagome watched as she went to sit under the sun, biting into the apple. It was difficult to watch Silva without feeling heaviness on her heart. Soon she and Inuyasha would sneak into another country.

 

Kagome was shaken out her thought as Silva returned, demanding another apple. “If you keep eating them, there may be no more left on the tree.” Kagome laughed.

 

“Then I'll ask it to make more.” Silva said as she ran her fingers over her new apple.

 

Kagome giggled. Silva put the fruit into her mouth, holding onto it with her teeth as she walked up to the tree, placing her hands on the trunk. She closed her eyes and the tree glowed for a moment before several flowers bloomed in its leaves.

 

“How did you do that?” Kagome asked as she looked back at Silva. The child pulled the apple from her lips. “I just gave it a present.” Silva answered with a smile. Kagome reminded herself about how Inuyasha used to tend to the tree of years.

 

Satisfied, Silva rushed off toward the sunlight. She stopped for a moment, holding still. Kagome noticed Sango and Rin come forward in the distance. Silva jumped and rushed toward the other child, cutting her treat in half and sharing it with Rin. Sango gave a small word to the two before coming toward Kagome. Rin and Silva began eating happily.

 

“So how'd it go?” Sango asked as she reached Kagome.

 

“How did what go?” Kagome replied, still watching the two children.

 

“Inuyasha's reunion with Silva.”

 

“Oh that. It actually wasn't as bad as we thought until Silva asked about her sister.” Kagome said quietly.

 

“What happened?”

 

“Silva refuses to believe that Ayla's dead. She kept saying that she knew Ayla was still alive somewhere. She won't be happy when she finally accepts the truth.”

 

“Poor kid.” Sango moaned. “How did Inuyasha take it?”

 

“You could see the lost look on his face. I don't think he knew what to do at that moment. Silva became so tired after her little outburst that she fell asleep right after. I'm really worried about her. I think he may have to sit her down and explain clearly that her sister is gone for good. I wonder how she will think of it afterward. I heard from Inuyasha that they were always close. It makes sense that Silva would want to search for Ayla, but…”

 

Sango looked back at the two girls as they played in the distance. “I wonder how long she'll grieve.”

 

“I don't know. Anyway, did you hear about the plan?” Kagome tore her eyes away from the children, noticing Sango's serious countenance.

 

“Yes. Miroku told me.”

 

“Are you ready?”

 

“Always. What about you?”

 

“Yeah. I'm not so sure about the plan though. Inuyasha's not certain about it either. I keep thinking that something may go wrong.”

 

“Don't think like that. You have to go into battle with confidence.” Sango advised.

 

“I know, but I can't help feeling nervous. We only have ten days to finish all of this: to go into enemy territory, reach the capitol, stop their leader, and get out.”

 

“It sounds impossible doesn't it? But when adversity strikes, people can rise to the challenge.”

 

Kagome laughed. “Did you get that off a fortune cookie somewhere?”

 

“No, I heard that from Miroku and what's a fortune cookie?”

 

Kagome sighed. “Never mind.”

 

 

Silva sat on the bed, her eyes closed. She was humming a soft tune, the tips of her fingers moving at the notes as though she were playing an invisible piano. Kagome listened to her adorable voice as she looked out the window. If in ten days time they had succeeded in ending the war, how long afterward would she be offered the choice to go home?

 

She wasn't worried about the time as much as she was worried about her choice. No matter how much she debated against herself, how many times she repeated the question in her head, no solution came. If only she weren't so indecisive. If only she didn't have to pick one or the other. If only she hadn't come to care for the people here. If only she could choose.

 

She sighed, looking out into the moon. Even the moon of this world looked different. The darks blue spots were shaped like a dragon and a lion. She wondered if her mother was looking at the moon now, wondering where she was. Or would time have frozen back in her home world? If she went back, would it still be that Friday afternoon?

 

She was so tired to this internal struggle. It only added to her stress when she began having those odd dreams. She wished she knew why she was seeing those things.

 

Silva stopped singing behind her and Kagome turned around. She was sitting still, her eyes wide and her nose wiggling. Her ears twirled on her head for a moment before Silva sat straight, a smile on her face.

 

The next instant, she jumped off the bed, rushing toward the door. “Silva?” Kagome called, going after the child. Silva wrenched the door open and ran outside. She breezed through the dark and windy road. As Kagome caught up to her, she noticed a figure in the distance: Silva's destination.

 

“Papa!” Silva screamed enthusiastically, jumping into his outstretched arms. Several villagers, who still were outside, gasped. They began whispering amongst themselves and Kagome could hear the shock in their voices from her heightened senses. So now they knew just whom the little girl belonged too. Kagome wondered if Silva was considered a princess of sorts. She knew that Inuyasha was royalty, but would there have to be some sort of right of passage that Silva had to take?

 

Inuyasha moved Silva to his shoulders. Her eyes went wide for a moment as she held onto his crown, but soon she was smiling as he came closer to Kagome. She began fiddling with his left ear.

 

“What a relief.” Kagome said as he walked to her. “I thought you'd be a chicken and make another excuse to avoid coming.” She said cleverly.

 

Inuyasha gave her a grumpy face. “Is that how much faith you have in me?” He grouched and almost scowled when Silva began giggling.

 

“Want to go for a walk?” He asked his daughter. Silva burst with a large smile and waved her hands excitedly. “YES!”

 

Kagome was a bit thankful to escape the scrutinizing looks of the citizens as they talked to each other. She heard several of them wonder if Silva was her daughter as well. Kagome blushed at the possibility. Although, the idea didn't sound so terrible, it caused her turn a deeper shade of red. She never really considered becoming a part of Inuyasha's family for she was still concerned for her own, but she would admit that it sounded appealing.

 

Inuyasha led them into the garden. Silva turned her head from side to side, her nose twitching. “It smells so clean!” She said. Kagome could smell the freshness in the air too. The island was like another world at night.

 

“What do you smell?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“The ocean, trees, grass, bugs…s-spicy…” Silva sneezed.

 

“Hey, Inuyasha, where are we going?” Kagome said as she noticed they had gone beyond the garden and deeper into the forest.

 

“There's something I'd like you to see.” He said.

 

“What is it?” Silva demanded, bouncing on his shoulders. Inuyasha smiled, “You'll know when we get there.” Silva pouted.

 

He led them through a thick series of trees and waded across a small stream. Finally he stopped, just in front of a large boulder. He patted Silva on her knee. “Do you smell it?”

 

Silva bit her lip in concentration. Inuyasha placed her back on her feet, leading them around the bolder. Kagome gasped at the scene in front of them. A field of flowers stretched in front of them, glowing under the moon. Several large, marble ruins came out of the ground, flowers growing out of their cracks.

 

Silva clapped her hands together, running out into the field. “Don't go too far!” Inuyasha called and she turned to nod before running off again. Kagome chuckled as she began picking flowers.

 

“You know you can be really sweet sometimes.” She said to Inuyasha.

 

“What's that supposed to mean?” He glowered

 

“Oh nothing. How did you know about this place?” Kagome kneeled, her fingers touching a blue flower at her side. This place made reminded her of the underwater garden she had seen in her dreams. Kagome frowned.

 

“Actually…” Inuyasha began.

 

“What?” Kagome asked.

 

“Remember when you returned my heart?” He said.

 

“Yeah.” Kagome looked down, focusing on the flower.

 

“This was the place I came to afterward. I came here to clear my head.”

 

Kagome stole a glance at him. His eyes followed Silva as she picked flowers in the distance. She looked back down at the blue blossom. “I'm guessing that you found your piece of mind here?”

 

“Sort of. I couldn't answer a lot of things I was confused about. I was also in a lot of pain.”

 

Kagome stood up. “I know what you mean. There are a lot of things I can't figure out either.”

 

Inuyasha was silent for a while. “I hoped that we could spend a little more time together. I regret not coming to see Silva sooner.”

 

“Inuyasha?”

 

“The attack on Easter Domain will begin the three days.”