InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forgiving Loss ❯ Chapter 9 Assistance ( Chapter 9 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, no matter how much I hate to admit this. This anime/manga along with all of its characters belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. This disclaimer is valid to all chapters of Forgiving Loss. Though they do not belong to me, BlueAngel326 loves to toy with them, a lot.

Chapter 9 Assistance

The young woman walked into a half-lit great hall. She looked around intently, as if searching for something. Or someone.

“Who has summoned me here? Show yourself. I know someone is here,” she spoke evenly.

Automatically, all the lights flicked on. She remained still and calm. “I will not say it twice.”

“Impatient are we, My Lady?” an unknown voice spoke.

“Why do you hide behind shadows and illusions?”

“It is merely my way of hospitality. Some find my…presence…intolerable and disturbing. Please think nothing of it.”

“I find no geniality in someone who does not face me directly when I speak. You are hiding more than just your presence.”

“Perceptive as always I see.”

The woman turned towards the door. “Do not speak as if you know me.”

“Ah, but I do know you, well, at least know of you. You have quite the fame among certain groups. I bid you not to leave so soon. You have only arrived.”

“I do not like having my time wasted. State your purpose or I shall leave.”

“Impatient as well, I see. Very well, I will get straight to the point. I would like to hire your assistance. A job, if you please.”

“And why would someone like you need my assistance?”

“It is merely a task that I myself cannot accomplish, and you are the only person who can do it. Of course, you may ask for any price in return.”

“I am not interested.” The woman continued to the doorway.

“May I inquire as to why?”

“No. But I shall tell you. You are not the only one who is well-informed. I have heard of you, Naraku. You would go through to any extent just so that you would not soil your own hands. My service cannot be bought by the likes of you. Besides, what I desire you cannot grant.”

“Are you so sure?”

“More than necessary.”

“Your greatest desire can easily be granted, if you wished it. My capabilities stretch much farther than you could imagine. There is a person that you wish to see. A hanyou, is he not?”

“Your endeavors for my services tempt me to laugh. It is much deeper than you think. Human manipulation will not satisfy me.”

“Ah, but, My Lady, manipulation is more than what it appears on the surface. That hanyou will be yours by his free will, if you cooperate.”

“Continue.”

 

May 13, 1999

I've been talking with Inu-kun a lot lately. It seems that he trusts me. I hope so. I want…to know everything about him. He's so mysterious, but that's a good thing, at least, that's what I believe. He doesn't talk much around other people, but when we're alone, it's like he opens up and I can read him freely. He's gruff and a little rough around the edges, but once you get to know him you see that he tries really hard to be polite. He has his times when he blurts out offensive things, but he doesn't mean it. When we're alone, it's like he transforms into a different person in front of me, someone who's vulnerable and reserved. This Inu-kun relies on me as if I'm his only hope. When this happens, it kills me a little more. I see him, and I feel the need to shelter him from the world, to let no one see this side of him. I don't pity him. I can't. It's a different feeling I get, one that I cannot name. Kaasan once told me that this feeling is one that everyone feels when they are with their soul mates. I can't possibly imagine such a thing between us! It's…not a thought that scares me. It's just…I don't know…different from pity and stronger than love.

Today, he asked me what I thought of him. I didn't know how to answer. I told him so. He said that I didn't have to answer if I didn't want to. I felt embarrassed. I told him before that he could ask any question that came to his mind and I'd answer it. I failed to do so. I explained that it wasn't that I didn't want to, I just didn't know how. It was an unusual question for him to ask. I assumed that he would already know, but that was foolish of me. How could he if I myself didn't? He just scoffed and told me to let it alone. We didn't talk for a while. In the tree we were sitting in, I concentrated during the silence. Finally, I told him:

“It's hard to explain what I feel about anyone. For each person it's different. If each person were to come ask me what I think about them, I wouldn't be able to answer. What I feel can't be described or put into tangible form. What I think of you can't be put into words. The best I can do is show how I feel by listening to what you have to say and be someone that you can rely on. I'm sorry…if that wasn't what you wanted to hear.”

I had turned to leave. I hadn't been sure if I could have faced him after what I'd said. I didn't want to see him broken, torn by the words of a friend that he thought he could trust. But he held my wrist.

Instead, I was the one who was torn by his look of desperation, of fear. He told me:

“Matte, onegaiitashimasu. You don't have to leave if you don't want to. I shouldn't have asked; it was stupid of me. Gomen nasai, Higurashi-sama.”

It broke me, that lost expression of his. He released my wrist and turned. I still couldn't understand what was going through my mind or his, but the next thing I knew I was holding onto him, hoping to share his pain.

“Inuyasha-kun, please don't think that way. I told you before to ask me anything you want and I won't mind. Tell me anything and I'll listen. Shinjite, Inuyasha-kun.”

I held him for a long time, and he didn't mind. Finally, he began to tell me about someone. He said he had one other friend before, a long time ago when he was temporarily in an orphanage near Kyoto. A new girl had come to the orphanage with her little sister, just losing their parents and home to a brush fire in the countryside. Even though most of the children didn't talk to him, let alone play with him, the girl came to him one time when he couldn't get his favorite bouncy ball from the other kids. She gave him back his ball, smiling. She had become the only person who had smiled at him in the place. They became each other's only friend in the orphanage since the other kids alienated her because she talked with the “weirdo.” They had known each other for over a year when suddenly an old couple adopted the girl and her sister. Both were saddened by their separation, but Inu-kun said that they had promised to see each other again.

Even now he still remembers that promise he made with that little girl. It's kinda depressing when you think about it. Being separated from your first and only friend isn't something that you can just brush off. The more I hear about Inu-kun's past, the more I want to be by his side to walk him through his pain. I truly have never felt such a need to be someone's friend such as this. I'm going to stay with Inu-kun for as long as I can. Deep within me, I wish to stay forever.

 

“Inuyasha-kun…? I wonder why he doesn't speak much like back then…like in these entries that I wrote. I think it would be nice if he would talk…every now and then,” Kagome whispered to herself. Then she sighed and flopped back against her pillow. “But he told me to wait. I have to…because I trust that he will keep his promise.” She rolled onto her stomach and buried her face into the fluffy pink pillow. “But I wanna know!” she whined. Again, she turned to lie on her side. “Believe, Kagome. You know he won't break his promise.” Once more, she flipped onto her other side. “I know, but I can't help but be anxious!” She continued like that until someone knocked at the door, throwing her off. She lost her thoughts as well as her balance when she saw that it was Inuyasha.

“Itai…” she mumbled, soothing her poor hip from the fall.

“Ka-go… Are you okay?”

“Daijoubu, Inuyasha-kun.”

“What were you doing?”

“Just thinking.” Kagome stood up and straightened her skirt.

“Why? Is something the matter?”

“No, I've just been reading lately.”

“What are you reading?”

“My diary…I wrote it a long time ago when I was in high school.” She pointed to the open blue and pink notebook on the bed.

“Do you remember anything yet?”

She cast her gaze away. “Gomen nasai…” she whispered.

Inuyasha sighed. He didn't mean to make her upset again. “Daijoubu. Don't worry about it. Come on. There's somewhere I wanna take you.”

Kagome's eyes lit up as she brightened. “Really?” She tried not to sound too eager.

Inuyasha just waved it off. “Don't be so excited. You look like a little kid when you do.”

“Oh. Gomen nasai…” She bowed slightly in apology.

Inuyasha backed away in surprise. “J-Just come on already.”

“Hai.”

Inuyasha drove Kagome across the city to a temple, one that was different in structure to the Higurashi grounds but with similar shrines. Kagome looked around while following Inuyasha to what looked like a training area. “Inuyasha-kun, why are we here?”

“To meet someone, someone who might be able to help you better than I can for now.”

“Oh.”

Kagome looked away, feeling ashamed. `I am being a burden on him. Why did I have to go and be so nosy? I should have just left it alone and waited for him to come to me. Now I probably ruined everything. He probably hates me right now. I should…apologize to him now.'

“Inuyasha…I'm sorry for the other day. I shouldn't have acted that way before. It's none of my business and….Gomen na-”

Inuyasha suddenly grabbed Kagome and engulfed her in an embrace. “Stop apologizing. None of this is your fault so stop being so guilty. I hate it when you're like this, so please, Kagome…”

“Gome-” Inuyasha tensed against her. Kagome rested her forehead against his chest in defeat. “Arigatou, Inuyasha.” She smiled

There was a pause before Inuyasha pulled away. “Good to see you better,” he said gruffly, looking away. Kagome looked up to see him blushing. She smiled to herself as she tentatively put her hand in his. He glanced at her and gulped before closing his hand around hers.

`He's rough around the edges,' Kagome concluded to herself, `But he's sweet and shy. I really do like him.'

Kagome noticed that Inuyasha's mood changed when she felt him tighten his grip. Apparently, he noticed someone's footsteps approaching. Soon, she heard a maiden's voice coming from the stairs behind them.

“It has been a long time, Inuyasha.”

“Yeah, it has.” Inuyasha and Kagome turned around to see a miko in traditional robes carrying a bow and a quiver of arrows. “Kagome, this is Kikyou, an old friend.”

 

“Sumimasen, sir, but the aid you have requested, she accepted.”

A man in a burgundy suit looked up from his respective work behind his desk. “Really. Good.”

“Sir, there's something more. It seems that Inuyasha-san has requested help of his own.”

“And?”

“We believe that he asked for the miko, Kikyou-sama, to help Kagome-sama with her training. Since she has forgotten everything, including how to use her powers, he requested her help to assist his mate with her training.”

“Interesting.”

“Sir, don't you think we should intervene on this matter? We don't want Kagome-sama to rush things if we intend on continuing our plans. If something goes wrong, we may have to make alterations. We should-”

The man held up a hand. He had on a bored look.

“But, sir…”

“Enough. We will allow Inuyasha his freedom for now. If anything gets out of hand, then we may intervene. But for now, Inuyasha chooses what he wishes for Kagome-sama. It is not our concern.”

“Sir.”

“You may leave.”

“Sir.”

When his subordinate left, the man turned to face the window of his office, looking over the city. “Things are going as planned. Soon, we will have all the information we need and this will be done for good. Don't fail me now, nee-chan.”

 

“Are you sure that you want to train with me? I cannot guarantee that you will recover everything since you possess more potency than I do,” Kikyou queried as she poured more tea.

“If Inuyasha believes in you, then I will too, Kikyou-sama.”

Kikyou studied Kagome and then looked towards Inuyasha. “Very well, then. I warn you, however, my lessons are harsh, so do not expect me to be soft on you just because you are the mate of a friend.”

“Understood. Arigatou-gozaimasu, Kikyou-sama.”

Kikyou looked back at Kagome and smiled kindly. “Please, Kikyou.”

“H-Hai, Kikyou.”

“I should be the one who is flattered, Kagome-sama. Helping someone with such great power, I am the one who is honored.” Kagome blushed and thanked her. Kikyou turned once more to Inuyasha and nodded to him.

“Kagome.”

“H-Hai?”

“Could you excuse us for a second? Kikyou and I…have some things to discuss.”

“Oh, go right ahead. Don't mind me.”

Inuyasha and Kikyou walked out of the kitchen and walked around on the training grounds.

“She is lovely, Inuyasha. I believe you chose your mate well.”

“Yeah.”

“She makes you happy, does she not? Or is it something else?”

“Kikyou, I didn't mean to call you like this after so long. I know it's pretty selfish, not trying to find you after so long. And when I did, it was only for a favor.”

“Inuyasha, do not blame yourself. What you are doing is in itself selfless. Someone without powers as ours can clearly see that you care for her beyond human limitations. Because you love her so much, you cannot stand seeing her agonized. You can sense her sadness, and you too become depressed until she shines again. Her modesty is what draws you in; her constant worry is what drives you to keep her happy. She is someone who can communicate with you without a barrier of any sort. She accepts you for whom and what you are, even if she doesn't remember just yet what those are. You realize this, yet you are not satisfied because she is hurting. That is why you cannot stand separating from her, and right now you are.”

“We are?”

“Yes. Although you are physically here with her, your hearts are not connected.”

“Connected…?”

“You could sense what she felt before, correct?”

“Yes…”

“But now you feel distant to her.” Inuyasha nodded to indicate what she said was true. “You can still sense her presence and any strong emotions she emits, but when she is alone and you are not near, it seems like all you feel is yourself. That is what I meant by not being connected. Before the accident, she entrusted herself to you one hundred percent and vice versa. Your souls were so entwined that not even distance could sever the bond you two held. But now that she has forgotten everything, including you, she does not realize your youki and, therefore, cannot bond with it. If anything, she is resisting it because she does not recognize it, neither do her miko powers recognize it since they are part of her conscience.”

“Does that mean…in order to connect again, she has to remember who I am and recognize the existence of both of our powers?”

“Yes,” Kikyou nodded sadly. “I know this will be difficult because it is difficult to start over. But if you truly love her as you do, you will. Beginning again is always hard, but you must remember this: you won't be alone in doing this. Kagome is doing her best to help, and her friends are with her, as well as with you. Kagome will not be the same Kagome that you once knew her as, but she will be a greater person. Believe me when I say this, Inuyasha. Remake that bond, and we will all see a change for the better.”

YAY!!! After eons of no updates, you get a new chapter!!! Sugoi masen!!!! Je suis très heureuse et très fier!!! I'm so sorry for not updating in so long. I'm pretty sure a lot of people have given up, but for those who are reading this, never give up on me. I love typing probably as much as you love reading awesome fanfics. I can't stand seeing a product of mines unfinished. This story, as well as the others, will get finished, as long as Kami-sama allows it. We're finally getting into the end of phase one of this story. Two more chapters and I will begin phase two. You probably have no clue as to how this story will go since a lot of people have said this is one of the most original stories they've read so far, and I'm pretty sure it is since it's AU and the main plot has hardly been unveiled. But no worries! The next chapter will be totally full of surprises. I promise with the nice girl pose! *winks* *thumbs up* *shiny tooth smile*

Okay, maybe I've watched too much Naruto and love Gai-sensei's hilarity too much. In fact, other than school, Naruto and this new anime called Ouran High School Host Club have been my main distractions from typing. But I'm making progress. In less than two months, I've watched over 110 episodes of Naruto, and right now, at episode 147, I'm ready to tear Sasuke's hot ass up. He's been pissing me off with his choices. But at least he didn't kill Naruto. That's the main thing. He's hot, but the avenger thing has gone a little bit too far. Oh well, I'll eventually get to the episode I want, I think. Anyway, enuff gibberish. Mate raishuu!

BA326's Final Words

It's summer, and I've a job!!! Yay me! I work at Mickey D's, and my feet and legs are killing me! But hey, it pays well for a full time high school student with flexible hours. I just wish that one of my co-workers would stop blabbing her mouth off and do her f-ing job. She doesn't take her job serious enough, and then she complains. She kinda has me POed. But other than that, my job is great. And I'm finally getting serious with learning Japanese. I finally used that program my cousin bought for me for my birthday like two months ago, and I understand a lot better the Japanese language. Hopefully, by the time I get to college, I'll be ready to learn more than just the basics. Anyway, see ya! Ja ne!!