InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Falling ❯ Honored ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3: Honored

 

Kikyou's dark brown eyes softened as she stared at her sister's hut. InuYasha was in there, so tightly wrapped around Kagome that nothing short of Naraku's re-animation could pry him away.

 

`He truly does care for her. And she loves him, despite all that has happened between the three of us.' Kikyou's heart ached as she thought of all the times she had tried to tear the hanyou away from her reincarnation. She almost started to cry as remorse she had been too hate-filled to feel before washed over her. `I can feel. I can love again; I am moved by something other than hatred and a need for revenge. And it's all because of Kagome, because of her selfless wish.'

 

The miko reflected on Kagome's current dilemma. The girl truly did not belong in the Sengoku Jidai. She had been born, will be born, 500 years in the future. But truly, the girl had power to spare. She didn't belong in a time that didn't acknowledge that power. Kagome would be of more help here, where she could fine-tune her powers and gain control. InuYasha would help her. `If she is willing to accept my help, I will offer it, as well. Kaede and Miroku would also volunteer to assist her.'

 

“I realize I sound presumptuous, but you should leave this place.”

 

Kikyou turned to see Sango step out of the shadows, arms crossed. The taijya was staunchly protective of Kagome. `All of them would give their lives for her.' Kikyou had been fully aware of Sango's efforts to remove Kagome from the elder miko's presence earlier that day. She wasn't surprised to see Sango persist in her course of actions.

 

“This is my home, is it not?” Kikyou modulated her tone to one of indifference, though she felt anything but.

 

“Not really. This village doesn't need a miko of your standing. They have Kaede, they'll have Kagome.”

 

Kikyou lifted an eyebrow. “What if I no longer wish to be a miko? Fifty years ago, I yearned to be a normal woman. Now, I can do that.”

 

Sango made a sound of disgust. “You have that opportunity only because of the bizarre amount of kindness and love in Kagome's heart. For some reason, after everything you've ever done to her, she included you in her wish. She healed you. And yet you still cause her pain, just by being here.” Sango's face was red as she began to rage against the woman who had hurt her younger sister. “You weren't fully human again for more than a minute before you threw yourself on InuYasha. He told us all that he'd chosen Kagome; he said that you knew. Why then, would you do that?”

 

Kikyou gazed in wonder at the slayer. She wondered if she could have ever gained the friendship of somebody so deeply that they would stand up for her as this woman stood up for Kagome. She doubted it. Then again, now, she had her second chance. `Well, to be honest, this is my third chance. Urasue's resurrection was my second and I was unable to grasp it as fully as I should have.'

 

The two women stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Blazing, a fully-transformed Kirara flew down from the sky to stand next to Sango. The young woman leveled a scathing glare at Kikyou before climbing onto Kirara's back. “Don't think I don't know you tried to kill her once. Do not hurt my younger sister, Kikyou. Or I'll make damn sure you're physically incapable of it.”

 

As Sango went off into the night to hunt, Kikyou only had one thought on her mind.

 

`I wonder if I shall ever have somebody so willing to throw themselves into harms way for me.'

 

*~*~*~*~*

 

Ears cocked toward the door outside, InuYasha failed in his attempt to ignore the women outside. Still, while normally a threat to Kikyou's life would have spurred him to act, he was pretty sure the end of the world wouldn't tear him away from the futon he was reclined on.

 

In his arms lay a burden precious to almost everybody in the town. She had cried herself into an uneasy sleep. Even now, nightmares contorted her face, causing her to twist in his arms. Afraid she would do herself more damage, InuYasha let loose a curious rumble from his chest. The soothing vibrations calmed the miko; she slipped into deeper sleep.

 

Unlike Sango, InuYasha knew Kikyou regretted upsetting Kagome. He knew she felt badly for losing control of her emotions. If there was one thing Kikyou prided herself on, it was her control. In one of their few fleeting meetings since Kagome had fallen down the well, Kikyou had expressed her wish to apologize. But Kagome was in no mood to listen; even if she was, he was sure she had much more pressing matters stuck in that beautiful head of hers.

 

“Souta… so sorry…” Kagome murmured. InuYasha's ears flattened on his head. She had told him just a few nights before the final battle with Naraku that she would stay with him. Was she regretting that decision?

 

`It could just be shock… she never really got a chance to say good-bye to her family,' a voice chided him. `It doesn't mean she doesn't want to be with you, it just means that she wishes she was able to say good-bye.'

 

Deeper, though, InuYasha feared Kagome being stuck here. Would she be required to train as a miko? Could a young woman as kind-hearted as her ever really be happy doing anything other than helping others in need? And, if she did train as a miko, did that mean she wouldn't be with him anymore?

 

`Kikyou couldn't be with me because she protected the Shikon no Tama. The damned jewel's gone now, so Kagome should be safe, right? Even though people might be willing to hurt us… I'll protect her.' To be perfectly honest, InuYasha feared Kagome would be swayed by the feelings that humans and hanyous were never meant to be together. True, she hadn't ever expressed the feeling before, but he knew how a mob mentality could affect even the most unwilling.

 

He tightened his hold on the woman, distressed at the turn his thoughts had taken. `Kagome said she wanted to remain by my side,' he reminded himself hopefully, `She wouldn't have said that and not really meant it, right?' Kagome was a horrible liar. She worse her heart, her emotions, her thoughts on her sleeve and face unashamed for the whole world to see. Sango, Miroku, hell, even Shippou had insisted Kagome loved him. If it was obvious to them, it had to be true, right?

 

Looking down at the sleeping miko, he sighed. He'd just have to do his best to show Kagome that they could live a happy life together. She may have lost her family in the future, but he'd make sure the rest of her life was filled with love and happiness. `And maybe, just maybe, she'll want to have a family… with me.' With that hopeful thought, and the knowledge that Sango and Kirara were on patrol tonight, he let himself fade into sleep, to dreams of black-haired, puppy-eared children laughing and playing in the village.

 

*~*~*~*~*

 

“Please, I just need to get out of here for a while,” Kagome was all but begging quietly. Sango had again offered Kirara's services to take them to a hot spring, and the girl ached to feel clean. She saw InuYasha's resolve wavering. “I need to get clean.”

 

Sango met InuYasha's gaze with a hard one of her own. He could see the understanding in her eyes, and it wasn't helping him put his foot down one bit. “You know I won't let anything happen to her.”

 

With a sigh, then hanyou lowered his head. “Keh.” Kagome clapped, and he was rewarded for his consent with a smile, a real smile, the first one to grace her face since she had been hurt. It rocked him to his core to think that he had given her a tiny ray of happiness, and felt better already.

 

“Let's go, Sango-chan!” Kagome was practically vibrating with excitement at finally leaving the hut. She was depressed, yes, but she was also wracked with cabin fever. The girl thought she was going to go insane if she was forced to remain there any longer.

 

Before Sango could move, InuYasha had Kagome in his arms. Carrying her outside, he gave her one last good look before stepping back and letting Kirara take off. “Please, Kagome…”

 

“I'll be fine. Sango won't let anything happen to me.” With that, the females took off.

 

InuYasha stretched, unable to get the nagging sense of worry out of the back of his head. Still, he'd use this time alone to his advantage. He had been chatting with Miroku earlier that day while his miko slept, and had decided to take his first steps in courting her. Of course, the monk had reminded him that this was all really a formality, had assured the hanyou that Kagome obviously had feelings for him and had actually requested to stay by his side. Still, he would honor her, and hopefully make her happier in the process.

 

Turning, he ran smack-dab into Kikyou. Arms flailing, he caught the woman just before she hit the ground. “Careful!”

 

“InuYasha.” Kikyou acknowledged him with a dip of her head. The hanyou looked around, noting who was nearby to see this chance encounter. He had grown slightly paranoid since the day they destroyed Naraku, almost irrationally afraid that his presence near Kikyou would somehow lead to more pain on Kagome's part. “You and Kagome have a visitor awaiting you outside the village. You should go quickly.”

 

InuYasha tilted his head at her vague statement, but didn't get a chance to question her. Kikyou hurried on, muttering something about helping Kaede gather herbs while the sun was at its peak. Shaking his head, InuYasha picked up his pace, scenting the air for a clue as to who might be waiting for him. The scents brought a low growl from him subconsciously. Both were those he considered threats, and he bit back the urge to rush to find Kagome first.

 

`Crazy wench would want to hear them out… they've both tried to kill her before. I'll see what they want first.' He bounded toward Goshinboku, where he knew they were waiting.

 

*~*~*~*~*

 

To say Kagome was slightly uncomfortable would be an understatement. She was learning the hard way that it was just not easy to utilize a hot springs with her ankle in a splint. Propped up on a low rock, she and Sango were doing their best to wash her hair without drowning her in the process, but she was growing more irate by the moment. True, the heat felt heavenly on her aches, but it also irritated and stung her deeper scratches, still healing from the battle with Naraku.

 

Finally snapping, she flung a rock at the stone wall bordering one edge of the spring and let out a small shout of frustration. “I hate this! I hate being helpless! I'm sick of being weak!”

 

Sango had been anticipating the outburst, watching as her friend and younger sister had grown more and more tense throughout the day before and that morning. She didn't blame the miko in the slightest; she simply sat and listened.

 

Kagome wept out her irritations - after a year of InuYasha telling her how weak she was, the young woman was finally truly experiencing it. The hanyou's affections were confusing her more than making her feel better. It galled the miko that Kikyou was playing such a strong role in her recovery. She felt guilty that she was upset that Kikyou was being nice to her. She felt guilty that InuYasha was being so careful with her and didn't know how to act. She knew he had been avoiding Kikyou and felt as though she was interfering in a friendship, if not a love. Kagome missed her family, but knew it hurt the hanyou that she was crying. She never said good-bye to her Mama, her brother, her Jii-chan…

 

At this last admission, Kagome's sobs slowed into hiccups. Looking up to meet the taijya's eyes, the tears welled up all over again. She felt even guiltier crying over something like this; her family was alive, it's not as if Sango, Miroku, or even InuYasha had really had a chance to say good-bye to their family members. What gave her the right to break down? This was the only thing she really lost to Naraku… she hadn't even really lost it to Naraku, she lost it to herself. That thought brought on a third round of sobbing; this time most of the words were incomprehensible. The only part Sango made out was Kagome's choked-out, whispered apologies for laying all her woes down on her like this.

 

At that, Sango moved over to Kagome, putting her arms around the young woman and rocking her gently. She mentally filed away each and every one of Kagome's sorrows to be discussed with their friends at a later time. Physical wounds would heal with time; mental wounds would heal only with proper love and care. Kagome had been there for her when Sango thought all was lost; now, Sango had a chance to pay the girl back for her kindness.

 

When Kagome had spent all her tears, Sango tilted her chin up to lock eyes with her.

 

“Kagome-chan, I love you. Miroku loves you, InuYasha loves you, and Kaede and Shippou love you.” Her voice grew harder, more admonishing, “Never apologize for your tears. We are all here for you. You have never backed down, never disappeared when we needed you. You have always taken our fears, our sorrows, and our needs upon your shoulders. Now, let us do the same for you. What kind of family would we be if we didn't?”

 

Though slightly harsh, the reminder that she still had a family on this side of the well was really what Kagome needed. She stared, wide-eyed, at Sango.

 

“I know it's not much, Kagome-chan,” the slayer whispered, “but we'd be honored to be your family here.”

 

Kagome could only nod.

 

*~*~*~*~*

 

“Oi!”

 

InuYasha glared at the couple standing under the God Tree. One person he'd expected never to see again; the other, he had only hoped to avoid for the rest of his life.

 

Sesshomaru lifted his head as his half-brother challenged him. “This Sesshomaru wishes to see your miko.”

 

InuYasha lifted his head, hand on Tetsusaiga, daring Sesshomaru to step forward. “Give me a good reason why I should let you meet with her.”

 

Without allowing his brother a moment to speak, InuYasha's eyes slid to the woman on his right. “And YOU. You died. I watched Naraku wring your neck. How are you here now?”

 

Sesshomaru snuck his arm around Kagura, staring at his brother. “My mate and I,” he paused, allowing InuYasha time to truly catch the significance of those words, “have much to thank your miko for. We've heard there is to be a celebration tonight for the defeat of the wretched hanyou who enslaved Kagura. We wish to honor your miko her sacrifice to help so many others.”

 

Sesshomaru's lips curled into a smirk at the look of astonishment on InuYasha's face. “Honor her? What do you mean?”

 

“You intend to make the miko completely yours, correct?”

 

“Fuck off, bastard. Like it's any of your business…” InuYasha trailed off.

 

“You are my little brother; it is my business who you decide to mate. She is human.”

 

InuYasha snorted. “Wow, I hadn't noticed. You're a quick one.” Sarcasm was his strongest weapon when confused.

 

Kagura spoke up for the first time. “She saved my life. It's only fair we do the same for her. You don't want her to die centuries before you, do you?”

 

InuYasha mouthed wordlessly. Sesshomaru's smirk grew to a grin to see his half-brother so completely dumbfounded.

 

InuYasha finally found his voice. “How? How would you do this??”

 

A/N:

 

(new a/n added 8/13/08: to those of you who have me or this story favorite, I apologize for all the update notices. I'm coming off a major dry spell writing-wise (well, fanfiction writing-wise) due to health and job issues, and am easing myself in with a few tweaks here and there. I promise, there WILL be new stuff by the end of the week!)

 

I finally came up with a good way to describe when this happens timeline-wise… I'm basically just ignoring the manga. It kind of kills me to do this, but it makes it easier for me to describe what's happened and what hasn't. So basically, if it's been animated, then it counts (so, I'm including the movies, as well). If it's manga-only, then forget about it. However, my other story takes place just a few chapters ago in the manga, so don't think I'm ignoring them!

 

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any other characters from the anime/manga. They all belong to Rumiko Takahashi.