InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Ghost of Love ❯ chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Just ahead of her was the strong walls of her new home, strangely enough it stood on the same foundations as her old one. Home was still the same though, a place she could call her own that she shared with those she loved. It still felt just as good reaching this place as it did jumping through the well and into the arms of her own family.

Kouga remained a few steps behind her taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds of this changing landscape. Companionship had been nice on the final leg of her journey. Even her once unabashed courter had changed. Kouga now possessed a deep sense of commitment to his pack and family. There was no denying the pride that shone in his eyes whenever he spoke of his young son.

Youkai aged slower than their human counterparts so overall his appearance hadn't really change. However, he had gained a certain amount of regal air about him, no doubt from his role as a prominent leader for his people. Kouga had never looked better. His new role as father and husband had softened him while his time as tribe leader had served to strength and harden him. He was a remarkable man and she was honoured to be called his friend.

“Kagome!”

She looked up to see Sango waving at her from the top of the shrine's stairs. Joyfully she raised her hand in return greeting. It felt good to be surrounded by her friends once more.

“She finally tamed that lecherous monk huh?” Beside her Kouga chuckled in past remembrance of the pair waiting for them at the top of the shrine steps.

“And then some. They have quite the brood themselves. Strangely enough most are older than I am.” Grinning back at the wolf youkai she began the routine trip up the sturdy steps of the shrine.

Reaching the top the pair was greeted by the aged couple. Miroku respectfully welcomed their long lost ally and soon the two men were wandering the temple grounds. Kouga looked back once to ensure that his young ward was safely on her way to the main house.

Kagome couldn't help but smile. So many years had past yet everyone's response to her was the same. They all sought to protect her, even when there was nothing to protect her from. The thought warmed her heart. How had she come to be so fortunate as to be surrounded by such good people?

“I was surprised to see Kouga-sama with you Kagome. It has been such a long time since we have crossed paths with him.” Sango noted as she helped Kagome out of her traveling clothes.

“He gave me quite a fright before I realized who he was.” Kagome struggled into the clean garments Sango had laid out for her.

“You've lost weight. I imagine you last task was quite grueling. You were gone longer than we anticipated. I should have packed you more food.”

The young miko smiled at the mothering nature of her friend. Sango had found her true calling as Miroku's wife. Even now the taijiya couldn't help but fret over the state of her.

“I used what rations I had to provide for my patients once I arrived. The journey around my patrol took twice as long when I came across the last village. They were foolish enough to oppose the war lord and they suffered dearly for it.”

“Foolish,” Sango questioned as she gathered the dirty clothes from the floor.

Kagome sadly shook her head, “they should have known they stood no chance against the Lord. I don't begrudge them the choice of freedom and the principle behind what the did but it seems such a waste now. So few survived the slaughter.”

“I see. You have seen so much since returning. The commitment you have given your role has been great. Perhaps you have not noticed it Kagome but we are not the only ones who have changed greatly. You are not the same woman as you were once before either. Granted, you have not aged like we but you have matured far beyond your age when we first met.” Sango led the way into the kitchen, dropping the dirty clothes in a basket outside as they went.

“What do you mean? I'm really no different than when I left.” Kagome frowned as she moved into the kitchen. She methodically set to work helping with the evening meal while she conversed with her friend.

“Really Kagome? Gone is the girl who was indecisive about so many things. You no longer are bothered by long days of work, that or you no longer say anything about it. You accept your duties with grace and dignity. More importantly you are confident and strong.” Sango stoked the small cooking fire and put a pot of water on to boil.

“Sango, one does not change that much in such a short amount of time.” Kagome scoffed as she peeled away the skin of a vegetable.

“Perhaps you did more than just sleep while encased in the jewel. Think about it Kagome, no one takes to medicine and healing like you have. I wonder if your powers weren't growing the entire time you rested. The souls of the past teaching you in you unconscious state. What you have accomplished in a matter of months would have taken a normal miko years to achieve.” Sango looked assured of her theory as she stirred the pot and added herbs.

“There were no other beings inside that jewel accept for me!”

“Yes, but Kagome do you not remember the cavern at my village. The place of birth for the Shikon no Tama.” Sango grew serious as she stared into the pot.

“Well yes,” the young miko was unsure of where this was heading.

“It was the great Midoriko-sama who sealed her own soul with the youkai she fought. Her soul created the Shikon no Tama.”

“Midoriko,” she breathed the word entranced by the memory of the stone statue near Sango's village.

“Kagome, Miroku and I have dwelled on this matter for quite some time. Even if you had been resting in the jewel, twenty years passed yet you have not aged one day. Time did not stop Kagome yet your aging did. Your powers have increased ten fold yet you have not practiced or had formal training at all. There is more at work here than what we know.”

She hadn't considered such a theory. So lost in trying to pass each day without Inuyasha she had simply accepted the changes in herself. The first time she had fired her arrow after her return it had hit its mark with deadly accuracy. The tip had burned with such intense reiki it had been almost a blinding sight.

The first time she had attempted healing with reiki her hands had glowed blue and the minor wound beneath them had sealed instantly. Suturing had been a breeze with the aid of her miko power. She couldn't heal those who had lost too much blood but she could seal any wound in the blink of an eye. Something that shouldn't have been possible by normal standards yet to her it seemed second nature.

So caught up in her despair over Inuyasha she hadn't really paid much attention to her own self. Just what had happened in the jewel while she slept through the years?

“Kagome,” Kouga's voice called to her from outside.

Sliding the door open she was face to face with the youkai.

“I regret to inform you that I must be on my way. I have business to attend to that cannot wait any longer.” He grinned slyly at her.

“Business huh?” She wasn't sure what the mischief in his smile meant. “Well, I guess this is goodbye once more. Thank you for escorting me home Kouga. It was wonderful seeing you again. Promise me that you'll bring your family for a visit sometime.”

“Aye, Ayame will be so happy to hear that you have returned. Take care of yourself Kagome.” With a final nod he turned and sped off.

Kagome watched as he paused when he reached the stairs. One the wind she thought she heard him call out to her. Something about a promise being a promise but the breeze had muffled the words to much for her to catch the full message. She smiled and waved as he lifted his hand to her and disappeared down the steps.

Another brief chapter in her life seemed to vanish with him. It had been easy to believe the night before, with his wolves curled around her for warmth, that she was back on the trail of Naraku. Holding out in Kouga's cave's until Inuyasha returned for her. Easy to believe that mere hours seperated them instead of this endless eternity of waiting.

She had reflected on the past a great deal since last night. The entire trip home she had found herself regretting so much about her time spent her prior. Regretting words she should have said, or actions she should have taken.

Their love for one another was obvious to everyone yet had remained unsaid between the two of them. She had been to afraid to state the facts, afraid of complicating matters even more. If she had spoken to him of her affections would he have waited for her at the well? If she had shown him her love with tender affection would he have been here to greet her upon her return?

The saddest thing in her life was that her love that had gone unspoken, unexpressed because of her fears, and it lingered as a painful memento of what she had lost. A ghost of their connection only remained. Gently calling to her each night in torturous reminder of what she had let pass through her fingers when a simple touch, a chaste kiss or a soft word could have changed.

She would change so much if she could go back and do it over again. Hindsight was always twenty twenty and as such the past remained a lesson. Something to gain experience and learn from. Learn from she would. She vowed to do things differently when ever he reappeared in her life.

“Kagome-chan!”

Snapping out of her trance she turned back to the kitchen. Her face glowed with embarrassment when she realized Sango must have been trying to get her attention for awhile.

“My apologies Sango, let me help you with the stew.”

Kagome looked anxiously at Miroku as he scanned the small piece of parchment that had just been delivered. Once again all her hopes rested on a tiny piece of paper. The seal on the scroll had indicated that it was from the kitsune tribe in the south. No doubt it was another note from Shippo.

“Hmm,” Miroku mumbled as he read the well inked kanji on the paper.

“Well, what does it say,” Kagome could hardly contain herself any longer.

“First he says how much he misses you and apologies that he has yet to make it here to see you. His training has been very demanding and he has not had enough time to travel back here.” Miroku began as he settled onto the deck of the house.

Kagome nodded, her patience wearing thin with each passing word. It wasn't like she didn't miss Shippo as well, in fact she longed for the day she would finally get to meet her adoptive child once again. However, Shippo had been trying to find any traces of Inuyasha's whereabouts since Miroku had first sent word to him of her return. His letters always caused her a great deal of stress as she worried and hoped in the same breath.

“He picked up Inuyasha's trail awhile ago. He goes on to say how it took him on a round about trip right back to where he started. Then the trail went cold... I'm sorry Lady Kagome.” Miroku's sad eyes bore down on her with such intensity that she had to look away.

“It's alright Miroku,” she stood to stare out at the snowy expanse around them. “What's another few months right?”

Another few months and she would have been here for one full year. Loneliness overwhelmed her as she studied the bleak, cold late winter landscape. Her tears had ceased months ago, so had her smiles. Every passing day became more and more a trial. Each harder to get through than the last. Life without Inuyasha was fast becoming a meaningless existence. In fact, if she hadn't her duties of miko to pass the time and focus her thoughts away from him, she feared she would be completely swallowed with despair.

Was this why he had taken to wandering? Was Inuyasha running from the same emptiness she felt growing inside? He had spent so much longer away from her; longer dealing with such nasty feelings. No wonder he hadn't wanted to spend time where he would be surrounded by memories of their time together.

That or he had simply moved on. Her heart clenched when she considered him finding someone new to spend his time with. Maybe he had moved away, married and had a family like Kouga. To caught up with his new found happiness he hadn't thought about returning to check on Sango and Miroku. Anything could happen in twenty years after all. Enough time had passed that he surely would think her old by now; dead even.

Even though she knew his lifespan could see him through until the modern times, she couldn't begrudge him the happiness of a family until then. If he lived to see her modern Tokyo again he could have had many wives and many children. Five hundred years was a long time to spend alone. No, she couldn't despise him for wanting to feel the connection of a family.

Inuyasha deserved as much. He, above all, deserved to feel the warmth of a home. Feel the loving touch of a wife and experience the joy of children. No matter how her heart ached thinking that he already had found such, she couldn't wish that away from him. If he had finally found some greater form of happiness than she would wish him well.

“Lady Kagome?”

“Sorry Miroku, but what did you say?”

“It's time to go inside Lady Kagome, before you catch a cold.”


A/N: Thanks again for the excellent editing from my beta. I am humbled by the great reviews. I'm so happy to see some of my readers from past stories leaving me reviews once again!