InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fallen Part One: Downfall ❯ Still Frame ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2:Still Frame

For the second time in his life, he found himself pinned to a tree. Ironic that once again he found himself sealed by an arrow of a miko that he dearly loved, they happened to be of the same soul to boot. Though this time there were no promises made, at least not like the last time. Unlike last time he wasn't as willing to change himself for this person, he wasn't asked to. He knew she loved him the way he was or, at least that's what he thought. This time she pinned him to a tree, right when he was finally declaring his love to her. It had been a setup the entire time. She had been waiting for the opportune moment to reseal him and he was stupid enough to fall for it.

So here he finds himself again, pinned to a tree. Except this time he was allowed to remain aware to an extent, still looking dead to the world. This time, he was forced to remain conscious, but once again the spell suspended time and left him completely helpless. It didn't kill him like the last one did. Frozen in time until someone came along once again to free him. However, this time he sorely doubted he wanted to be freed. The pain was too much. The pain of betrayal was slowly eating away at his soul. A tear escaped his sealed lids as he whispered the name of his love, pain and heartbreak filling his being. He could feel his heart begin to break for the second time. He could feel it crumble. This time, he doubted it would be as easily pieced back together, for the love he experienced was real. His former love could never hold a candle to what he felt with her.

//Please help me 'cause I'm breaking down,

this picture's frozen and I can't get out (of here)//

After four years of traveling with her, he had finally gathered the courage to finally tell her how he felt. That opportunity had been snatched away, by her and by his own brother.

He had thought they had mended the rift between himself and his elder brother, but now he found himself proven wrong. They had both betrayed him. More tears slid down his cheeks. This wasn't supposed to happen this way. This was wrong! It was all wrong.

Finding himself trapped in a state of semi consciousness, he found that he couldn't break free of the spell. It was a weak spell, but he lacked the strength to break it. He was once again frozen in time, but his heart refused to freeze. It was left raw, open for all to see. Now he understood how she felt when he went to the clay pot. Now he understood, and there was nothing he could do to right his wrongs. Oh how he had greatly wronged her. Repeatedly.

//Please help me 'cause I'm breaking down,
this picture's frozen and I can't get out (of here)//

As the days passed he relived every time he made her cry. He relived every time she was nearly killed. It tore the already microscopic pieces of his soul down to a molecular level. He couldn't understand how she ever forgave him before. He relived the `Kikyou incident' of over fifty-fours years prior. As the weeks passed, he found clarity. The type of clarity one would find in those still frames that Kagome once brought back from her time. Each detail was illuminated and magnified to the point where he saw everything in an entirely new light.

The love Kikyou claimed to have for him was a selfish love. It was a puppy love, an infatuation. There was really never anything there. Each embrace they shared before she was resurrected had seemed real, but now they seemed hollow. It was nothing in comparison to his beloved Kagome. Yes, he did love Kikyou, but it wasn't the love one would hold for a lover, it was more like a love one held for a friend. All they ever shared was a mutual experimentation. They were testing their boundaries. They were young and stupid.

//Believe me, I'm just as lost as you//

With the clarity that Inuyasha achieved on his relationship with Kikyou, came the confusion that followed his enlightenment. For all those years Kagome emitted nothing but love and sincerity. It was impossible to think that she could have plotted this since the beginning. She was just too genuine.

So what could have caused this betrayal? Surely it couldn't have been Kikyou, because they resolved the entire situation within the first six months of their travels. Sure he knew Kagome resented Kikyou, but he also knew she resented herself for being so `selfish'. Kagome was too pure. The only other explanation would be that she had been taken over or brainwashed. But that was also soon ruled out. He would have smelled it.

He went on like that for days, weeks even, trying to find a reason why she would do this to him. But with each excuse he came up with, he quickly ruled it out with a very plausible counter. He was hopelessly lost.

//And every time I think I've finally made it
I learn I'm farther away than I've ever been before//

This was getting him nowhere. Every time he came up with a reasonable answer, rational thought laughed in his face. The closer he thought he was to the answer, he learned that he was not any where near it. Naraku wasn't an issue, because Kagome killed him. Kikyou was given a new soul, so that was also out of the question, besides why would Kikyou want to kill someone who gave her new life. It just didn't add up!

//I see the clock and it's ticking away, and the hourglass empty
What the fuck do I have to say//

After a month of his newfound captivity, he smelled familiar scents. It was Sango and Miroku, along with the runt, Shippou, and the fire neko Kirara. He felt a wave of nostalgia and heartache course through his body. He wanted to see them again. He needed to know what happened. Something wasn't right.

Fighting against the sealing spell, Inuyasha fought with all his might to free himself. One word rang clear in his mind: freedom. He needed his freedom. After everything that had happened, he needed to get loose. There was something he needed to resolve.

//Keep it inside the image portrayed
As if I couldn't stand losing as if I couldn't be saved, no way//

When the seal refused to loosen, something inside him cracked. Red pooled behind his sealed lids as he felt his blood rising. He remembered that his brother had taken the Tetsusaiga. He could feel his demon taking over and desperately fought to repress it. Momentarily winning that soon to be fruitless battle, he willed his eyes to open. Looking out with pink-tinged eyes, he flinched when light reflected off of a shiny object. Squeezing his eyes shut, he slowly opened them again to see the glittering gold of the monk's staff.

Opening his mouth, he found that his vocal cords refused to move. They were paralyzed. Roughly shaking his head, he managed to force out a weak sound between a wail and snarl. The bushes before him rustled as the monk and taijiya entered the clearing. His head snapping up he saw that they pointed murderous glares his way. He whimpered slightly, confused. He very much resembled a lost puppy.

//A small confession I think I'm starting to lose it
I think I'm drifting away from the people I really need//

For a brief moment the taijiya's eyes softened slightly in pity and confusion before they hardened again.

"You bastard!" she snarled. He whimpered again, begging an explanation. Oh how the mighty hath fallen. He looked so broken, that the enraged female before him stopped for a moment. Confusion clearly shown on her pretty features. "What happened to you?" she breathed. Never before had she seen her brash hanyou companion in such a broken state. Never before had she seen his eyes look so lifeless, not even when thinking of Kikyou, his life's tragedy.

//A small reflection on when we were younger
We had it all figured 'cause we had everything covered//

Back then he was strong. He could handle anything, but now he seemed so frail. When all she received was another whimper in reply, she approached him, and lifted her hand to his cheek causing him to flinch. Looking back at the monk, she beckoned him over to see if he could remove the seal. Remove it he did.

When the arrow was pulled from his chest, the hanyou collapsed. He had no will to move. Clutching a surprised taijiya, he cried into her shoulder.

"She left me," he sobbed. "I told her I loved her and she left me. She killed me, just like Kikyou did!"

That last statement sent everyone's minds reeling. Not only was their indestructible friend sobbing like a baby, but he was saying that KAGOME sealed him to that tree. Something was off. Things just didn't add up.

//Now we're older it's getting harder to see
What this future will hold for us, what the fuck are we going to be?
I'm afraid I'm falling farther away (from where I want to be)//

Rocking him gently, the taijiya sent a glare to the boy and man and sent them out for firewood. This is not something they should witness. The broken form of the formidable Inuyasha, sobbing pathetically.

"Shhh," she soothed, "shh, it's ok. Go to sleep and we'll talk to you when you wake up. There's something that doesn't feel right here," in more ways than one, her mind quipped.

//Please help me 'cause I'm breaking down,
this picture's frozen and I can't get out (of here)//

Their patient had fallen asleep long before the guys returned. Digging through the yellow pack that was lying next to the chibi form of Kirara, Sango pulled out a spare blanket and wrapped the distressed hanyou in it. She was stuck in that moment, watching the silver-haired demon sleep. She was trapped in her thoughts.

//Please help me 'cause I'm breaking down,
this picture's frozen and I can't get out (of here)//

When Miroku and Shippou returned, they sat around a hearty fire, and ate the last of the ramen supply. Kagome had disappeared about a month ago, the same night Inuyasha did as a matter of fact. The puzzle was seemingly insoluable, as they mulled over the confusing details.

One month ago, Kagome had run through the campsite, never stopping to say a word to them. She had followed after Inuyasha in the opposite direction a few minutes before she had come barreling back through. That night neither came back. They had thought it was just another of their lover's quarrels, but they were terribly mistaken. By the next after noon, they had split up to search for their missing friends. What they found was a broken Inuyasha one month later.

Something was terribly wrong. They were powerless to solve it until the hanyou chose to arise from his slumber. For now they would remain clueless, lost.

//Believe me, I'm just as lost as you//

~x~

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Ja Ne!