InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ InuYasha: War of the Youkai ❯ Inuyasha's Fateful Decision ( Prologue )

Prologue - Inuyasha's Fateful Decision

"Inuyasha," whispered Kagome as she trembled slightly. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

Inuyasha stood, quietly pondering as he held the glowing Shikon no Tama in his claws. He closed his eyes and clinched his fist around the sacred jewel, wincing due to the difficult decision placed before him. All he had wanted for years was to hold the jewel and be able to fulfill his utmost desire to become a full-fledged demon. But in the years he had chased after Naraku and his hoard or incarnations, he instead realized the value of his truly deep humanity. With the help Shippo, Miroku, Sango, and of course Kagome, he realized the true power of friendship in a lonely and troubled world.

He opened his eyes and gazed upon his friends. Each one, with the exception of Kagome, stood bruised and bloodied from the final confrontation with the evil Naraku in the very cave where Onigumo offered his body and soul to the demons. It was there where the spirits of Midoriko, Kikyo, and Kagome fused together with the power of Tetsusaiga to deal the final blow to the nefariously powerful Naraku, vaporizing the hanyou and breaking the dark curse that plagued the land.

When the miasma cleared and Kagome reverted to normal, the spirit of Midoriko passed the Shikon no Tama to Inuyasha with a few soft words of warning. "Protector hanyou," began the ancient specter, "of all the souls here, you have sacrificed and suffered the most for possession of this jewel. Therefore, the decision for what to do with it is yours. You can fulfill your ultimate desire to become a demon, but be forewarned hanyou that once you do so you will forget the friends that helped you to this moment. If you so chose to become youkai, you will be unable to experience true joy from friendship and your undeniable love for the miko Kagome will fade from your mind."

"What's my other option?" asked Inuyasha.

Midoriko's head bowed slightly. "You may give the jewel to the young miko. She has the power to finally purify this jewel that has cursed so many. But once she completes that task, she will have to return to her own time forever and you will remain in yours-thus returning balance to the world."

Inuyasha's heart sank further. Either way, he would lose Kagome.

So, Inuyasha stood there, obviously pained by the most difficult decision in his young life, and mulled over his options. After a few minutes of careful consideration his palm loosened its grip on the Shikon no Tama as he extended his hand outward to Kagome. Kagome reached out to take the jewel from his hand, but before she could remove it, she felt Inuyasha's hand close around hers. She welcomed the gesture, softly caressing his hand-happy that he made the decision to embrace his life and his human emotions instead of his insatiable demon instincts.

"Kagome," asked Inuyasha who still held her hand, "I want you to do one last thing for me before you purify the jewel."

"Anything…" whispered Kagome.

Inuyasha nodded, "Put me to sleep, Kagome. Take your arrow and seal my spirit to this cave wall." He grabbed Kagome's hands, squeezing them tightly. "If you have to go back to your own time Kagome, then I want to sleep until I can be with you, even if that means I have to sleep 500 years."

A tear trickled down Kagome's face as she gazed into Inuyasha's amber eyes. Would he really sleep for 500 years until he could be with her? Did she really mean that much to Inuyasha? "Inuyasha…"

He placed his palm on Kagome's cheek. "That's what I want Kagome. It's thanks to you and your kindness that I have learned to trust others and enjoy the good things in life. I want to be with you more than anything else. If Midoriko says I can't be with you in this time, then I want to be with you in the next… even if I have to wait."

"Inuyasha," whispered Kagome as she began crying almost hysterically. Inuyasha embraced her tightly letting all her emotions for him spill out. It wasn't fair, he thought. They had just defeated Naraku and it should have been a joyous moment. Instead, the five brave souls that had ventured across feudal Japan for several years now had no choice but to say goodbye to their great adventure and to each other.

Inuyasha said his goodbyes to his friends. "Do not worry Inuyasha," said Miroku somberly. "Sango, Shippo, and I will do our very best to make sure you are protected in this cave for future generations. We will make sure that 500 years from now, you will awaken in the fair Kagome's arms. Isn't that right Sango?"

Sango, choking back her words, was unable to speak. A sudden squeal, however, shocked Inuyasha. Sango turned to slap Miroku hard, leaving the characteristic red hand print on his face. Miroku instinctively removed his wandering palm from her behind. "You lecherous cretin!" she cried aloud.

"Ah, Sango my sweet, as always it was worth the pain!" returned Miroku as he rubbed his inflamed cheek.

Inuyasha then turned to Shippo. "I need you to watch over those two and make sure they don't kill each other."

Shippo smiled. "You got it! I'll see you when you wake up!"

With his final words said, Inuyasha turned to Kagome. "Kagome, I…"

Kagome put her finger on his lips to silence him. She said nothing, her eyes and actions said enough. To calm the fears that Inuyasha clearly tried to hide, she embraced him and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. She continued to hold him for a few more minutes and he returned the embrace. Both were too afraid to let go of one another. But, it would be Inuyasha to break first. "I'll see you when I wake up," he said quietly.

Kagome, tears falling from her eyes again, backed away from Inuyasha slowly as he turned and walked toward the wall of the cave. In one last gesture, Inuyasha unsheathed his Tetsusaiga and plunged the sword deeply into the floor of the cave. Sure that no being would be able to remove it, he scoffed. "I'll be back for that, so none of you better touch it!"

Finished, Inuyasha placed his back firmly against the wall of the cavern. Kagome readied her arrow. With a slight nod, Inuyasha signaled his readiness to the miko he loved. Trembling, Kagome raised her bow and pointed it toward the hanyou. Inuyasha smiled, trying to let Kagome know that everything was going to be all right.

"I love you," she said aloud to the hanyou as she cast the arrow into the air. With a bright pink aura, the arrow plowed into Inuyasha's chest. To Inuyasha's surprise, this arrow did not hurt. Kikyo's arrow, teeming with vengeful hate, stung him tremendously fifty years earlier. Kagome's arrow, however, felt remarkably soothing. Within seconds he began to feel a drowsiness waft over him.

With eyes heavy, he mumbled his last words to his friends, "Thank you."