InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hope to a Future ❯ Two years later ( Chapter 1 )

Hope to a Future

 

Disclaimer; I do not own InuYasha or any of its characters, etc. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I do own the story plot though.

 

Two years later…

 

Tomorrow was the night of the new moon and tonight the grounds where dark, the breeze warm and soft. The air in the garden was sweet with the fragrance of new loquat blossoms. By late winter the small, white petals would fall delicately and litter the grounds, tangling in the grasses, and succulent fruit would grow from the boughs in their place. Kagome loved to hand-pick the fruit herself and make jams from their tangy flesh.

 

It was his favourite.

 

They sat on the dark wooden slats of the veranda; a monk, a demon slayer, the wife of the village chief, a demon and a half demon. Each held a thick tea bowl, or chawan, of water and green herb and as was custom in the cooling winter, deeper bowls were used to hold the heat of the tea. A stone lantern cast a shadow of light across the circle of friends, each enjoying the serenity of the sitting garden that spread from the foot of the raised platform.

 

The demon, InuYasha, sat back peacefully against a nearby wooden post, the beginning of a stunted, dark wood rail that surrounded the veranda. It followed the steps to the strolling gardens on the eastern wall of the house. Kagome watched from an appropriate distance to his side, she remembered younger days when she hadn't had to worry about her behaviour with the opposite sex, or gossip amongst the villagers, but these were different times, different circumstances.

 

She had given InuYasha her favourite bowl, the one she had named after him. It was finely painted with an unending chain of delicate peach blossom.

 

She had broken it once.

 

The dark lacquer was starting to show under the wearing powdered gold and she recalled the painful hours she had sat to piece it back together.

 

That day, the servant girl, Komuko, had found her crying over the scattered and half glued bowl. She had not understood the reason for her state of upset. But not wanting Kagome to be found in such a state by her employer, Komuko had mistakenly tried to comfort her by assurances that the master would not be angry at her clumsiness. Kagome had only cried all the more.

 

She watched as he peered inside the bowl, cupped more gracefully than she thought possible with claws. What could he see in those fragile confines of clay? Did the kaleidoscope of herb and leaf spell things to him and share secrets that she couldn't know? No, he wasn't staring into the cup, she realised. He was lost to himself; staring through it.

 

He seemed unusually pensive tonight, and for reasons Kagome could not place. Could it be the new moon tomorrow night? No, it can't be, she thought. Although he still won't let anyone see him on his human night, he isn't bothered by it as much anymore, certainly not this much.

 

She knew it would be useless to ask; he'd never let on to something bothering him. For now she was content enough just to be in his presence, watching closely and waiting patiently for that moment when he would, inevitably, confide his worries in her. Or she would find out from someone else.

 

She looked around when Miroku cleared his throat. The monk waited for everyone's attention and then dropped his eyes to his bowl. “Well, I have someth-”

 

A small hand had caught his wrist, and he stopped. Sango held his gaze for a moment comforting him with a soft smile. Kagome, InuYasha and Shippo looked between each other, confused; it was rare to see Sango show such affection to Miroku in company.

 

“We have something to share with you all,” the slayer continued in his place. Miroku gripped Sango's hand tightly as the she spoke. His knuckles whitened and there was a slight tremble in his arm.

 

“Well, get on with it then!” Kagome turned to gave InuYasha a look that wasn't as stern as she'd intended. It was relieving to see him being his impatient self again.

 

Sango cleared her throat, a soft, almost unnecessary sound and continued, “I'm… I'm with child.” She looked almost apologetic. Miroku's hand gripped tighter to hers, but he did not smile, instead he stood, excusing himself, and walked into the house through the lathed door. InuYasha noticed but looked back out to the garden once more and then to the others.

 

It was difficult to tell who was more excited, Kagome or Shippo. Both cried out happily and quickly embraced the slayer. “Oh Sango, this is wonderful news, I'm so happy for both of you! Do know how far along you are?” Kagome asked, but her smile fell when she seen the bitter look on Sango's face, her eyes swollen and glass-like. “Sango, are you-”

 

The slayer sniffed into her sleeve and stood, “I'm fine Kagome. It's just that I'm a little overwhelmed, and it's late and I need to find Miroku. Thank you for the tea, but I really should be getting back now. Sorry.” She bowed to Kagome and left slow and paced enough to not be considered rude, but everyone present knew she had broken into a jog when she was out of sight.

 

Kagome was still staring at the doorway when Shippo awkwardly spoke up, “Uh, Kagome, I really should be going now too. Kaede said not to stay too long this time since it's colder and darker out. Thank you for the tea and I promise I'll come over again tomorrow. I know how bored you get here during the day.” He hugged closer to Kagome's scarlet karaginu, the jacket that covered the many layers of her robes, and left with the soft pads of his feet.

 

Kagome turned to see InuYasha's back to her and she smiled. They were alone.

 

1

 

“That was… unexpected.” She lightly laughed as she sat closer to him, dangling her feet over the edge of the raised veranda. He said nothing but he shifted to copy her, his legs reaching that much closer to the ground below.

 

“I wonder what was wrong with Miroku, he's always seemed so eager to have children. Although I'm pretty sure it's the making part he enjoys the most, he was always so determined to have a son to continue his line.” Kagome continued, carefully watching for any reaction out of InuYasha.

 

She wiggled her toes in her cotton tabi as the cold seeped through to her feet. She preferred the modern version; they were a lot less irritating.

 

“Maybe he's not the father.” InuYasha supplied and Kagome gasped.

 

“You don't really believe that do you!” She looked angrily at him.

 

“No, of course I don't! It was a joke Kagome.” He shouted back, and then calmly added, “I don't think Sango being pregnant is what's troubling him.”

 

“But you saw how he acted when she told us! Poor Sango, she looked so upset.” Kagome looked grimly at her feet again and then over to InuYasha, “What do you think the problem is?”

 

“The circumstances,” he mumbled and looked away, digging his claws into the wooden edging.

 

“Circumstances? ...You mean because they aren't married yet?” And Kagome suddenly realised the situation was more complicated than it seemed. The villagers would not make life easy for Sango, bearing a `bastard' child. As a woman with a profession deemed inappropriate for her gender, they already treated her with heavy disdain. This treatment did not anger Sango nor bring her shame for she was proud and strong in her heritage.

 

But would it be the same when it was towards her child?

 

InuYasha looked at Kagome's innocent and reflective expression. Could she have forgotten so easily? I suppose she's had other responsibilities and duties to think of for so long now, he reasoned and it angered him.

 

“No,” he said and the words held the bite he had tried to keep hidden, “I mean the curse, Naraku's death, the jewel, everything! God Kagome, how could you forget?”

 

Kagome didn't look at him. She was silent for the longest time and he thought she wasn't going speak or she was going to get up and leave. He waited in the hope that she wouldn't over-react to his outburst.

 

“I never forget,” she eventually said, and he saw that her eyes were tightly closed. What is she seeing? He asked himself, and his eyes followed the gentle slope of her raised chin, smoothing their way down to the small bump that moved with her swallow.

 

He didn't regret what he had said, maybe just how he had said it. Some things should never be forgotten, he thought firmly, and others simply can't be forgotten no matter how hard you try. He saw Kikyo's face; as her arrow pierced his heart, as she fell from the cliff to her second death, as she walked away from him for the last time. And then he saw Kagome's face; when she cried because of him, when she cried for him, when she held him and when she smiled for him.

 

“I never forget either.” He said softly, “But sometimes…”

 

And she waited.

 

“Sometimes it can be so hard.”

 

Kagome looked at him then, tasted the sadness of each word and then she looked away and to the windows. The rooms were dark, lanterns unlit; the servants where asleep and they were unwatched, so she moved closer to him and he felt her head rest upon his shoulder.

 

He moved closer too, and his hand twitched on the floor behind her.

 

2

 

Kagome returned to the soft blankets of the futon when he left and was grateful to be alone.

 

It was so cold.

 

But she was glad that no familiar, unclothed body lay in wait. No hands would gently caress her, no soft words would attempt to assure her, coax her. She would not lie beneath that body in stillness as the tears rolled from her lashes.

 

Not tonight.

 

3

 

When the cock crowed Kagome was still awake. It was a bitter morning, colder than any in the last few weeks. Bitter air told her the snows would fall soon, chased by the wind from the mountain tops.

 

She smiled at the fresh breaths she drew and raised from the sheets to tie back her hair. It was longer, wavier, and she found that she didn't want to cut it shorter again because she knew he liked to stroke it.

 

Pulling old, dark robes from the chest that rested in the corner Kagome continued to dress. She hoped the servant girl, Komuko, would not enter and coax her into something more `appropriate' as she usually would. The many layers of the formal robes felt restrictive, heavy and labelling. They were chains.

 

And was there reason to dress so ornately, only to get dirty at the markets? The courtly women of this era confused Kagome with their pointless rituals and vanity, and in return they treated her with contempt, hatred and jealousy. But her heart was already numb to their insults.

 

Slipping quietly and gracefully between the lathed doors and across the tatami mat floors, she made her way to the streets unnoticed. She liked the rough brush of the worn kimono on her bare skin.

 

It was earlier than she had first thought, fewer villagers where about and the court women were unseen.

 

Such a beautiful and cold sunrise, she thought, continuing through the gardens to the markets with a small smile.

 

4

 

The fishermen called loudly to one another across the worn street-way, the small harbour swimming with the sweet smells of fish and crab and seaweeds and other sea plunder. Old women sat nearby repairing nets with heavy stitches.

 

Half an hour had passed and Kagome held the fish she had bartered from the food stalls. It was still early and as she passed her home once more she saw no sign of her husband having returned. Was it wrong that this pleased her?

 

The breeze picked up whipping strands of her hair loose from its tie as she passed the smaller houses that surrounded her own. A few samurai wandered by, heading for a change of guard at the gates, but there were few others in this area at such an early hour.

 

Following a small stone wall out of the village, Kagome sighed when she felt the soft crush of grass beneath her feet. His house was in sight; small, clean and almost empty. Yet there was no question to her who lived in it, it held his marks, as slight as they were.

 

“InuYasha?” She called as she entered, brushing aside the sweep of bamboo that held to the doorframe like a soft lace veil.

 

He isn't here but he hasn't been gone long, she thought, looking at the still smouldering hearth. It was sunk into the floor and encased by fine and fresh tatami mats. Kagome set the fish upon the mat, still bound by dried seaweed leaves, and sat close to the gentle heat.

 

5

 

“Hello?” InuYasha stepped through the doorway clutching several logs with one arm and a small, dead rabbit in the other. Its plump feet swayed with his steps and he sat beside her, pushing the logs into the hearth.

 

Kagome held back a frown at the small rabbit, and smiled at him.

 

“How long have you been here?” He asked.

 

“Not long. I thought I'd drop round this fish, Komuko bought too much this morning, and I know you like it.”

 

He looked at the bundle and started to place it on a spit above the flames he had raised from the smouldering ash. “Thanks. That's almost everyday now, haven't you told her she's buying too much?”

 

“She's young, forgetful.” Kagome lied.

 

“She's not doing her job. You should get someone who can follow orders properly.” InuYasha replied sternly.

 

“She's sweet, I like her. And it's not like you can talk. Since when have you ever followed someone else's orders?” She smiled at him.

 

“I don't need to follow anyone else's orders, woman. It's not like I'm working for someone anyway. I only do what I have to, for me.” He said, with a matter-of-fact tone, as he poked at the fish and attempted to hide the small rabbit Kagome kept giving disapproving looks towards.

 

“You always protected me. You didn't have to do that.” She pointed out as he handed her a small fish.

 

“Yes I did.” And when she looked at him, and he looked into her eyes, he added quickly, “Because you're a weak human, and it's not like you could protect yourself. We needed you to find the jewel.”

 

Kagome's look of adoration became one of exasperation and wisdom. “Who're you trying to kid? You know as well as I do that's not the reason.”

 

He looked shocked, something she could not explain. She had anticipated denial. “Then what is?”

 

“Because I'm your friend.” She lied.

 

He snorted, but he didn't deny it. He was too relieved to try. “I can't protect you anymore,” he said sadly.

 

“Why not?” She demanded, confused.

 

“Because it's not my job anymore, Kagome… it's your husbands.”

 

Then there was silence. Neither looked directly at the other and Kagome felt her heart numb. Both sat looking into the flames, searching for answers and comfort and a way to forget, to pretend.

 

Suddenly Kagome asked, “how come you didn't smell it?” and the moment was broken. She continued to chew on her fish.

 

“Smell what?” He stopped tearing his own fish apart to look at her.

 

“That Sango was pregnant.”

 

“Oh.” He looked away, “I don't know.”

 

“Really, you don't know?” She repeated, looking toward him suspiciously.

 

“No.” He said uncertainly.

 

“That's funny, because I do.”

 

“You do?”

 

“Yes. And I want to know what it is that's had you thinking so hard recently, and why you've been so quiet and distracted. It's not like you.” She pulled his face towards hers with a clean hand.

 

“I haven't been- hey! Are you trying to call me stupid?”

 

“I wasn't trying.” She said defiantly, “Now tell me what's been bothering you so much!”

 

“It's none of your- just leave it, alright?”

 

“Fine.” She said angrily and threw her fish bones into the hearth. “But you will tell me eventually, won't you?” Kagome added when he refused to speak.

 

“Maybe.”

 

She smiled. “Tonight's the new moon, you know.”

 

“Yeah, I know.” He said softly. He had already left supplies in the forest.

 

“It would be safer if you stayed in the house.” She looked meaningfully at him.

 

“No.”

 

“No?” Kagome echoed, “Won't you even consider it? You know it doesn't matter anymore, Naraku's dead and the villagers here accept you for who you are.”

 

“Do you really believe that?” InuYasha asked, scowling and digging his claws into the floorboards.

 

“Believe which; about the villagers or about Naraku?”

 

“Naraku,” he said, though he had meant both. He rose from the floor and stood by a window that framed the large and swelling peach tree outside.

 

“No. I don't. But he's gone, that much is true. Two years is a long time to have heard nothing from him …I wonder why he gave up.” She looked thoughtfully into the fire again. Maybe he really is dead, she thought, though she dared not say it.

 

InuYasha laughed bitterly, “I don't think Naraku will ever give up.” Then he looked over to her sadly, “I hate that you carry that around, you know.”

 

She smiled softly back and pulled the jewel from under her robes. “I know.”

 

He quickly looked outside again and cleared his throat. It was a beautiful day; cold, but clear and bright. He'll be home soon, InuYasha thought, it's not right to keep her here. But he didn't want to let her go either. “You'd better go.”

 

“Yeah,” she replied. She knew her husband would be waiting for her. And she wished somehow, someway, things had been different.

 

Kagome left without another word, and InuYasha began to clean the rabbit for later.