InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forevermore ❯ Part Thirteen ( Chapter 13 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha. Not mine. I wish. Inuren, Yuma, Tora, Sazumai, Naomori and Aoi are tho. ^^

Author Rants: priestessmykala, you're so awesome. Thank you so much. You've been so generous with your reviews, they make me so teary-eyed (especially when no one else is bothering to review). LOL That's okay tho - it'd be kinda pointless to only write to get reviews - that'd be the bottom of the pit to me. I write because I enjoy it.

Anyway, yes I know, even Kagome said she would stay by Inuyasha's side no matter what - even if he didn't love her that way like she does. Eh well. He loves her, there's nothing to worry about...now it's getting him to actually say it. Next up for me is working on "Into The Deep," and an AU. I'm also drawing too...here's my DeviantArt account: http://flippersmac69.deviantart.com. You're welcome to visit sometime! I've yet to submit my Inuyasha drawings.

Farewell and thank you.

::f.o.r.e.v.e.r.m.o.r.e.::

a tale of truth, love and time by Mia

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Tumble, rumble and roll. Wonder what it's like in heaven when there's a thunderstorm below. Ever wondered how time wastes its time, or if loving a criminal is actually a crime? Make my dreams come true, so go to sleep now to give the angels their wings.

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::Part Thirteen::

All three celestial warriors could feel the tension in the air with every breath they took. Yuma had filled the two women in and even Kaede on Kagome's and Ren's conversation by the God Tree, explaining that what had happened might be because of Inuyasha's characteristics showing in Ren making Kagome react the way she did. Or almost did.

He kept his eye on the both of them, seeing that their seating arrangement showed the obvious uneasiness that sprouted between them as Kagome sat on the opposite of the fire of Ren, eyes glued to the flames. Ren was more transparent as he continued to gaze at Kagome, unhindered as he barely listened to what Kaede said about the whole charade.

The old woman breathed in deeply, her breath ragged as air filled her lungs then was exhaled. She certainly wore the years she owned, her one eye a bit clouded from old age. Yuma didn't even want to think about the one under the eye patch. "I can tell you one thing that is for sure; Naraku has also been keeping himself busy and has not slept for the past four years. When I heard the news of the lord priest and Lady Sango and Shippou's tight spot, I had tried to break them free of it but of no success. For the first two years Kirara, Sango's loyal friend and warrior cat, would not leave her side and even sat out there next to the frozen body of Sango, at nights, mornings, rainy days . . . But still she did not leave. I hear she is being taken care of at a nearby village that is right next to the field in which the three are bespelled and warded against any intruders." She paused only to clear her throat. "Now Naraku's henchmen are out and about, wearing human form and could only be truly unleashed at the slightest hint of Shikon Jewel aura."

"That is what had attacked us before," Tora added as though she had spoken her thought out loud.

Kaede cast her eye on Kagome, who only looked up any time Inuyasha was mentioned. "And of Inuyasha . . . He almost went wild the day of the well being sealed up and rejecting his entrance into your time. All of these discrepancies has led to desperate steps, and that is why Ren is here, for he is the connecting soul to Inuyasha and when you say he had transformed is Inuyasha's blood channeling through time." All of them expected for Ren to lash out with some harsh reply about not being some reincarnation, but he remained all too silent as though forboding some sort of culmination in his mind. "If only the well were not sealed . . . If only I could apologize for my sister's selfishness, for she was the one who had created a spell to block both sides." All souls inside the hut felt the wave of anger that hit Kagome right then and quickly fade as though it hadn't come at all.

"Yes, if only," were the words Kagome said and nothing more as she returned to creating burned images of flame in the black of her vision.

Kaede sighed wearily then looked toward Ren. "I cannot say I did not expect this . . . However, this was one of my prophecies that I wished I did not ever have to analyze." Ren frowned; what was the old bag getting at? The look fixed upon him was eerie and he felt uncomfortable under a single scrutinizing eye. "I had seen you before, in my dream. When I first saw you, I knew there was something much more powerful at work here - that it was all a part of some big plan and I was so relieved when Lady Kagome had been brought here to me at all when I had feared the worst outcome."

Ren felt a bit awkward then; he still wasn't getting it. "What the hell are you saying? Speak in a way that I can understand you and stop speaking in riddles." He ignored Kagome's glare and waited for an answer.

"What I am saying is that your existence has an ultimate purpose. In the vision I had, Kagome was in dire need of help and you had come to rescue her." Her tone escalated. "I am saying is that if you had not met Lady Kagome, she would have died."

That struck a chord in Kagome as it also had in Ren. He quickly glanced at her, searching for any answers in her eyes. "Meaning...?"

Kaede was really getting tired of the boy's blindness. "I am saying that Lady Kagome, at the grief and loss she went through with Inuyasha . . ." She hesitated, looking at Kagome who had a broken expression on her face. " . . . The loss would have been ultimately unbearable. Her heart believed that she could not live without Inuyasha and so . . . I-I do not know if it is my place to go on . . ."

"Go on or I'll force it out of you!" Ren demanded, leaning a little too near to the fire pit. Kagome had her eyes closed and didn't contribute anything to the argument.

Yuma muttered, "Calm your engines, boy. The fault is not in Kaede-sama that you are an infantile."

"Shut the fuck up," Ren spat back. He also realized that he wasn't at all fond of the fair-haired time warrior with the all too cool exterior.

"Go ahead and tell them Kaede-baa-chan." Kagome interjected, her voice quiet but strained, eyes still lightly shut.

At this, Kaede was uncomfortably encouraged to continue. "Lady Kagome has been stressed; a young woman like she is strong and brave although one can take only so much . . ." Her eye finally rested on the flames, face glum. "Kagome-sama has attempted to . . . End her life on more than one occasion. That is one major factor as to why Ren's soul had been attracted to her and brought them together in the first place other than the obvious reasons. The Gods play this universe as though it were a flute . . . As music is written down on paper and stone, as is destiny and fate."

Kagome finally upped her courage enough to look up at Kaede, eyes shining. "How . . . did . . ."

Kaede turned her head away, almost if not ashamed at having to reveal such a horrible secret. "The Keeper of Time, Aoi-sama, told me in a vision years ago that Ren's occurrence would be more than a little convenient."

Ren's hand shook in its tight fist at his lap. He stared unwaveringly at Kagome who refused to meet his eyes. "Kagome . . .? I-Is it . . . True?" Why . . . To end your life simply because you were left behind among the living? "Kagome! Tell me why--!" Everyone watched as Kagome quickly rose and made for the doorway, the flimsy fabric that separated the indoors from the outdoors flurried at her presence until settling down, only gently ruffling at the slight movement of the night air. Silence overtook the group; Ren bit down hard on his lip as thoughts and emotions rushed through his head. So my life DOES have a purpose after all, and it was to save Kagome from herself. A newfound determination claimed him as he stood, his muscles aching as was his arm as he gently freed it of its hindering sling, and without another word from anyone, he followed after the young woman of his dreams.

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Ren's guess was correct when he found her right where he thought she would be. The powerful expanse of the Goshinboku must have overlooked on so many conversations, partings, heart-breaking and yet has withstood time so indefinitely. The moon was waxing and full as it shined upon her form which stood just before the scar that marked the bark of the tree; from all the information given by his mother, he knew that was where Inuyasha was once pinned for half a century. Ren's hand came up to cover his heart. To be impaled by someone you wanted to be with and the feeling of being betrayed . . . even that sort of pain had had to be horrendous even to a half demon.

The young modern woman priestess ran her fingers delicately over the mark only to rest her hand on the cool white layer exposed underneath. He couldn't see her face but he imagined her to be crying, shamed at the unveiling of her most hidden secret.

She didn't turn toward him as he came up from behind, careful to find his footing on the tree roots as he made the bold move of enclosing his arms around her shoulders from behind. She didn't say anything but he felt her chest heave as she fought not to sob uncontrollably. He sighed in her hair, his lips near the side of her neck. More than ever had he realized just how ludicrous everything had come to be. Was he really being pathetic if all he wanted was her love, even though she wouldn't love him as Inuren Hayasha, the man he'd grown up to be for the past twenty-two years? He wanted to laugh. He'd missed his birthday as well. He wondered what Koru must be thinking. So you got attached to a some girl you barely know, huh? He imagined him to be smirking behind those thick glasses of his. Sounds like Ren Hayasha, through and through. Just be careful, okay? The guy isn't the one that's supposed to fall like some lovesick schoolgirl.

He deftly realized that he missed the poor fool although now someone else needed him more than he did. More than he ever needed himself. Although he'd never seen Kagome as some tortured soul forced to stay above ground. "Kagome . . ."

Ren felt her stiffen underneath his embrace. "Now who do you think is the weakling, Ren?" She broke away and jumped down from the tree roots as he followed after her.

"Hey, wait."

"Gods, why doesn't this universe just crumble away?! Why must time and emotions control human life? Why can't we - ourselves - be in control over our own existence?" She spun around to meet his steady gaze.

"Because we would have nothing left if we were."

She suddenly glared at him, at how calm his voice was. She let the tears fall, her hands shaking. "I was so ready to throw it all away! Can you imagine? Only being alive for such little time and feeling like the word had exiled you to such horrendous pain . . . To forget everything, to fall forever, to take the forbidden path that ended all others?" She was so beautiful just now, and he wondered if that was a bit perverse to think that way because of the way she was feeling now. She was coming apart like a ball of yarn, closing on what little sanity she had left. "That's what I am you know. Human. Selfish. Ugly. I felt destructive, you see. You want to know don't you." She searched his eyes and he knew it was a rhetorical question. "I . . . I want to tell you. I want you to know."

"I'm here," Ren breathed. He took her in his arms once again, only she kept him at a bit of a distance. He understood; he had a soul that was opening itself to him right now. He would have listened till the ends of the earth in the very same spot if so be it.

"It was when my class had taken their final exams for the year and we were rewarded with a trip to the Tokyo Tower. Not much, but it was a break . . . Then we discovered that there was an accident, live wires and such . . . Pipes broke and there was water everywhere. Everyone was ordered to stay back because of the risk of electrocution. I was numb as sparks flew at me, yet I wasn't really scared. I knew, deep down that I didn't harbor that fear every human life felt at the threat of dying but instead . . . I welcomed it. I had found the chance to finally escape." A broken sob racked through her. "I walked toward the puddle where the live wires contacted water, and I remember how everything else was blocked out: voices, people, my friends, everything. Even the inner voice telling me to live.

"Someone . . . A guard I think, flew at me to get me away but he was electrocuted and I . . . I stepped closer until the tip of my shoe touched the water. I felt nothing at first but a slight tingling in my palms. Later on I was told that I was glowing, that the source of the bright light came from the Shikon Jewel that I wore . . . Jii-chan told me it was what saved me." She closed the slight gap between them and buried her face in his thin shirt, her tears soaking through to his skin. "And even without the jewel it wouldn't have killed me . . . Because of my priestess powers making it impossible." She looked up at him again, almost glad that Inuyasha wasn't there to say anything about her stupid decisions. "I . . . Wanted to tear away the skin on my body, to expose the disgusting layer underneath . . . All because something was precious left me . . ."

Ren suddenly couldn't take it anymore. Each word was like an arrow twisted into his heart. He grabbed her by the face, forcing her to look directly at him just inches away. His eyes were brimming with unshed tears and it left her dumbstruck. "Don't you get it?! Hasn't the years taught you yet?? Hasn't time worked into your brain at all?? That precious love didn't leave! It was taken away!" He was shaking, she felt it from his hands. "If it was this blind fate that brought me to you, then so be it! I don't give a shit whether or not it was out of my or your control. Our meeting each other was what saved you, right??"

Kagome just realized just how selfish she was becoming, this startling revelation was what held her back. "Ren, I . . ."

His voice became more gentle, his eyes softening as he laid his forehead against hers and peered at her through is lashes. "The inside of you isn't disgusting or horrendous at all. Ugly would be the exact opposite. The first time I saw you, I let my case desires peer at you, and found nothing but beauty. It made me feel glad to be alive so I could look at your . . . It felt fantastic, like wings strapped to my heart. I wanted to die for one small second when I realized the feeling might end and go away. But then, I was moved by your situation . . . If I'm Inuyasha reborn, then good. At least that way, I'll always be at your side, ready to help and keep you on the right course." He bent and kissed her at the corner of her lips, a kiss of promise. "I'm . . . Unselfishly all yours."

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There it was again, the rush of feelings that weren't his. Sango and Miroku stopped and looked back at Inuyasha who stood frozen, a disconnected and confused expression etched in his features. "Inuyasha? What's wrong?" Miroku asked, backtracking toward him.

Inuyasha swallowed and blinked, each time he would receive an image of something that never happened to him, people he didn't recognize. His right arm started to ache as though he'd bruised it in some battle he never fought; love and longing filled him to the brim and he had no idea why. Both the monk and Sango watched these different emotions flood over in Inuyasha's eyes, thoroughly puzzled. "Inuyasha...?"

If it was this blind fate that brought me to you, then so be it!

If I'm Inuyasha reborn, then good. At least that way, I'll always be at your side, ready to help and keep you on the right course.

It was then that he felt her beneath his fingers, smooth warm skin, dark silky hair that brushed against his cheek. Her eyes were wet as were her cheeks. Sorrow stained her whole soul and he hated it . . . because he knew why she felt so. It was then that he began to cry.

I'm . . . unselfishly yours.

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To be continued...

Peek into Part 14 below (unedited - may be revised)...

>|||"So the demons marked by Naraku . . . How could we identify them among a crowd of innocent civilians?" Sazumai questioned, staring timidly at Kaede who handed Kagome one of her spare bows and a quiver of sharp arrows.

"Well, I have discovered this information just recently," she began, shifting about the hut in a slow but graceful pace. "The heads of the human forms that the demons possess have the markings upon them, a demon marking consisting of an eight-pointed star within a circle. Beware, for the human who possesses the mark has no knowledge of it whatsoever."

Yuma opened his mouth in disbelief from where he leaned against the door frame. "How do you suppose we will be able to distinguish the marking unless the person with whom is marked upon is completely devoid of hair?!"

Ren snorted indignantly from where he stood next to Kagome. "Guess you'll just have to turn to scalp-scraping, won't you Ice-Boy?" He growled loudly when all of a sudden he found Yuma sitting on top of Ren's shoulders and began poking around in his head, poised like a monkey grooming his fellow species. "HEY! GET THE FUCK OFF ME BASTARD!"

Everyone else looked on as Kagome sweatdropped, thinking, He really does resemble a monkey . . . With that, she pictured Yuma with a monkey face, all hairy with a tail. She shivered as Sazumai sweatdropped as Kagome's thought was exposed into the air. Sighing, Sazumai pulls out a sharp dagger and holds it out to Yuma. "Here - use this."

"Aaaaah!!!" Ren shrieked, clawing at Yuma's legs.

"Fool! Hold still - I'm only gonna cut your hair!" Yuma ordered, trying to stay on.

"And that's any better?! Now get OFFA me, you irritating piece of shit!" Tora yawned, obviously disinterested as Sazumai frowned at the show, with Kagome still sweatdropping, watching as the two threw names back and forth at each other.

"I think I shall wander outside for a bit." Kaede said pleasantly before escaping the chaos within her house.

"Weakling!"

"Icicle-Freak!"

"Urine-Eyes!"

"Weather Man!"

"Reincarnate!"

That one especially pissed Ren off. "GRR!!! Why you cold piece of fucking shi--" Suddenly Ren froze, his whole body turning a cool shade of blue. Ice particles cracked on the edges of his face as he stopped in his tracks, Yuma finally jumping off of him and studying his handy work. Ren's eyes blazed as he glared furiously through the ice, mouth frozen in its place.

"Hm, I did not mean to, but I guess I've won this round . . ." Yuma chuckled, amused.

"Release him now!" Kagome cried, laying her hand on the frozen arm of Ren.

With Yuma looking guilty as ever, Sazumai sighed and finally stepped forward, touched Ren once on the forehead and instantly melted, soaking the floor underneath him and creating a huge puddle. He shivered, partially from the cold but mostly from his lost temper. Yuma looked on, scolding at the sight of water beneath his boots. "Tsk-tsk . . . Now there's a wet spot on the floor . . ."

Ren wanted to gouge his heart out, chop it up and make him eat it through a straw. "AND WHO'S FAULT D'YA THINK THAT IS?!!!" With his clenched fist, he slammed his white-knuckled appendage at Yuma's face. The celestial warrior all of a sudden became projectile and with the momentum, he flew out the door and landed square in Kaede's arms. At the close sight of the old woman's face, a look of horror came over Yuma.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!"

From inside, Ren straightened. "Eh??"

At the reaction, Kaede questioned, "Is my face that horrible...?"

Leaping off, Yuma coughed and dusted himself off. "I deeply apologize Kaede-baba..."

"You are older than me, you celestial nincompoop . . ."

"Indeed, but does it show?"

"A little - Ah, is that a wrinkle I spy upon . . .?"

"Huh?? Where??"

"There."

"OH . . . A laugh-line . . . Ha. Ha. HAH . . ."

It was Sazumai who hissed in complaint. "Idiot."

Ren mumbles, "And we're relying on him for protection . . .?"|||<

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