InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Don't Cry ❯ Chapter 14 ( Chapter 14 )

It had been a week, a whole week, since Shippo had seen Kagome. Shippo didn't understand it, Kagome never left him for more than a day at most, so what was keeping her away from him now? He had asked Uncle Sesshoumaru but the cold impassive youkai lord simply stared at him with a look of disgust and went on mumbling death threats to Kouga, his papa.

Shippo now sat on the stone bench outside in the gardens, staring blankly at the fountain as water spouted out from it. He couldn't contain the sigh that left his throat as he thought about how utterly boring life in the castle had become without Kagome and Kouga. At first he had played with Rin, but a young boy can take only so many tea parties and "dress up" sessions until he goes mad.

Then the young woman who Kagome had helped finally got up and around. Shippo had made friends with her quite easily, for she was a lot like Kagome, she was kind and nice and apparently had a soft spot for children. But there was something almost sad about the way that she looked at him, as if she were remembering someone from her past, and the thought of it saddened her. Shippo didn't want her to be sad so he thought it'd be best if he stayed away from her, at least until Kagome came back.

But she hadn't come back. There was no sign of her at all.

Shippo had even visited Miroku, the monk, but he had said that wherever Kagome was she was fine and that she would return soon. Still Shippo couldn't help but wonder how soon was soon?

And so Shippo spent the last few days of the week in the gardens, keeping mostly to himself, which wasn't like him at all. Some of the maids had said that he might be going into depression, perhaps they were right. He just missed Kagome, his mother, so much.

Shippo let another sigh escape him as he swung his short legs back and forth, his bare feet barely skimming the long blades of grass.

"How many times have I told you not to go out into the garden bare foot!" came and exasperated cry from behind him.

Shippo whirled around to come face to face with Kagome. Her hands were propped on her hips and she was tapping her foot impatiently on the soft ground. Her raven black hair was down in waves about her as she glared at Shippo, a small smile on her face.

"Kagome!" Shippo cried as he leapt off the bench and into his foster mother's arms.

Kagome laughed, a sound that Shippo had come to miss so much in the last week.

"Kagome! I missed you so much! Where were you? Where did you go!? What were you doing? Please don't ever leave me again!" Shippo cried as he nuzzled his face into her neck, tears of happiness drying on his cheeks.

"Shh, its okay Shippo I'm here now, I'm here." Kagome whispered, her sweet smile crumbling as a sullen look passed across her features. But Shippo didn't notice, he didn't care as long as Kagome was here.

"I'm here"

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Kagome sat in the dark confines of the library. It was dark now and Kagome had not gotten up to light one of the many candles and lamps that would brighten the room. Instead she sat in front of a dying fire, staring blankly at the wall of books opposite to her, her eyes unfocused and unseeing.

She sat there mourning, for today she had lost something she knew she would never again. She lost people, many people this afternoon, perhaps she had lost them a long time ago but it wasn't until today that she realized it, realized it for the first time. She could never go home.

Never.

Not even when the war was over, when all had been said and done she still would not be able to return home. And all this she had realized through the eyes of a child. Kagome was bonded with this place, this time. She could not leave the people she loved here behind and simply return to her own time. She loved Kouga, and deep down she knew that if she left and returned to her own time he would survive. He would just make it. But Shippo, Shippo would not. And she could not leave him, she could not bring the boy who had become like a son to her pain.

Kagome let a whimper escape her throat before bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms tightly about them.

Mama.

Souta.

They would survive, she knew, they had to. As for her friends and other family well, they would move on with there lives, they would be happy.

"I will stay." Kagome said softly.

"I have to."

The door to the library creaked open, spilling light from the hallway in a near perfect arch into the room. Soft footsteps quickly made their way towards her, as if the person knew where she would be all along, as if she had been waiting for an eternity.

Strong hands gripped her shoulders, claws dug lightly into her skin.

"Kagome." Kouga whispered her name as he moved to cradle her in his arms.

"Its alright, it will be alright." He whispered in her ear as he stood in the middle of the library, Kagome cradled in his strong arms. He had felt her sadness, felt her mourning from all the way across the castle.

Kagome nodded her head and looked up at Kouga with an almost weary expression on her face.

"I will stay." She whispered.

"I know, I know" Kouga said soothingly.

"Come Kagome, there are many people who wish to speak with you." Sesshoumaru's calm voice cut through the stillness in the library.

Kagome nodded her head and Kouga placed her gently on the ground.

Sesshoumaru held out his hand, beckoning her to him. Kagome smiled softly in the pale glow of the hallway light and took his hand while holding Kouga's firmly in her other, and she let him lead her out into the light.

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"Kagome!"

Kagome was nearly knocked backwards from as two small bodies collided with hers. Kagome looked down and laughed when she saw Rin and Shippo clinging to her Kimono, starring happily up at her.

They were in the dinning hall, plates were being set for dinner, servants were scurrying in and out of the room, arms laden with trays of delicious smelling food.

Kagome's stomach grumbled as she realized that it indeed had been a long time since she had eaten a decent meal. For the past week her meals consisted of warm bread covered in honey and water. She had been much to busy with other. . . things to think that much about food.

"Kagome can I sit next to you?" Shippo asked as he tugged on her kimono sleeve.

"Of course you can Shippo." Kagome said smiling.

"But I want to sit next to Kagome!" Rin said with a small pout.

"Rin, that is enough." Sesshoumaru said almost coldly.

Rin's small head snapped towards Sesshoumaru's voice and seeing the disapproving look he was sending her way, she bowed her head.

Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru and scowled. It didn't take a genius to figure out what she was thinking. Sesshoumaru raised an elegant eyebrow and something somewhat akin to a sigh escaped past those smooth lips.

"You may sit next to Kagome next time Rin, for now you will sit next to Shippo." He said calmly, his voice almost soothing.

Rin looked from Kagome to Sesshoumaru and smiled.

"Thank you Sesshoumaru-sama." She said smiling widely now.

Kagome laughed lightly at the girls expression and saw out of the corner of her eye something that looked like a smile tug on Sesshoumaru's lips.

"Come, let us be seated." He said quickly, motioning towards the table.

Everyone nodded in agreement and took their seats.

The meal was delicious, and Kagome enjoyed it immensely. She talked to Shippo and Rin about the castle and what they had been doing for the last week. Rin told Kagome all about her tea parties and her mysterious friend "Tasha" who Kagome realized was a part of Rin's imagination. She also found out through Rin's chatter that the girl was in love with Sesshoumaru, she looked up to him in everyway. She loved him as if he were her father.

"Sesshoumaru-sama saved Rin." The girl replied proudly, raising her chin in the air as she spoke.

Kagome found this to be quite interesting but she didn't ask Rin any questions, not yet any way.

Shippo told her about Sango and her sadness everytime that she looked at him.

Kagome nodded her head.

"You probably remind her of her younger brother, she must miss him dearly." Kagome replied. `I know I do.' She thought to herself.

Kouga's head turned towards her at that thought, he had been in a deep conversation with Sesshoumaru about the events that had taken place while he was. . .busy, that is events pertaining to the war. Apparently the eastern lord had moved his youkai army towards the border and was preparing for attack, but Sesshoumaru was had a large part of his army already stationed at the eastern border and was confident that if there was a battle they would be victorious.

And as Sesshoumaru was telling him this he heard that bit of kagome's conversation and then her thought that immediately followed it, and his heart went out to her. If there was a way to bring her back to her family, he would find out. He couldn't stand to see her in so much pain.

Dinner ended and all went back to their respective chambers, Kagome carried Shippo to his room and tucked him into bed, placing a soft kiss on his forehead.

"Goodnight Shippo."

" `Night Kagome." Shippo murmured as he fell asleep.

Kagome smiled as she left the room, shutting the door softly behind her. She had so much things to catch up on, so many things that had happened in the past week that she needed to know about. She was behind in her training too now, and that wasn't good at all.

But when her hand lightly touched the doorknob to her room, that's when she heard it. It was a faint whisper in her mind, and Kagome wasn't sure that she had heard it at all, that is until it whispered again in the recesses of her mind. It was a strangled cry, a battle cry. And it was desperate, as if the person, the soft whispering voice in her head, was losing this particular battle.

Kagome strained to hear the whisper again, she held her breath her hand poised on the doorknob to her room.

`HELP!' The voice roared in her mind so loud that she was left shaking on the ground in its aftermath, her hands clutching her head as if they could somehow make the thunderous echo disappear. Kagome jumped to her feet, one of her hands touching her head while the other one clutched the fabric of her chest.

"Kouga. . ." she whispered, and then she ran.

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Okay I know it was short but it's a start is it not? LOL. I hope that last part there wasn't too confusing for you but if it was then I'm sure you will let me know ^_^

Thank you guys for your patience, at this point I can only HOPE that I am over my writers block, if this chapter sucks you guys let me know ok? ^_^ Ya'll come back now ya hear? And review this darn chapter, god knows it took me forever to write! Lol. Thank you everyone who reviewed, I appreciate it ^_^

~Sarah