InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome's Realization ❯ Chapter 27 ( Chapter 32 )

Chapter 27

Inuyasha stared up at the sliver of moon in the sky. Soon it would be the new moon and he would change into his human form. He let out a heavy sigh; it would be his first time without Kagome. It felt wrong, unsafe somehow. He wasn't sure how, considering that it was never safe but, it just did. When he was human he felt the need to hide but Kagome always urged him to stay with the group. Not only because to her it seemed safer to have them all around but because she wanted him to know that side of him was accepted too.

Morning was only a few hours away and with each passing moment he felt the weight on his heart increase. In the morning they will reach the village and he will be taking Kagome home to her mother for a proper burial. Inuyasha looked down from his branch to look at Kagome. It scared him to know that she was there but that he couldn't sense her, not the way that he used to. He missed the comfort he got from listening to the sound of her breathing. The soft noises she made when she changed her sleeping position, and snickering when the kitsune's sleep was disturbed. He would miss pretending to be asleep when she woke up the most. She was usually the first to rise and start breakfast, he enjoyed watching her creep around trying not to wake anyone, and catching her sneaking glances at him while he `slept'. He will miss the warm look she always gave him.

"Why did it take me so long to realize my feelings?" He whispered harshly to himself. Sure he had told her he loved her a few days before she died, and what wonderful days they were, but they were only days. Not weeks, months, years but days.

"We could have had weeks if I wasn't so hard headed. Maybe even months." Inuyasha said looking down at Kagome again. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the trunk of the tree. I feel like I'm going mad and it's only been a few days, how am I going to make it the rest of my life? Inuyasha asked himself as he rubbed his temples willing his headache to go away.

"You should get some sleep." A half-asleep Shippo said.

"What?" Inuyasha asked, he had heard Shippo speak but didn't catch his words.

"You should get some sleep." Shippo repeated.

"I thought you weren't on speaking terms with me?" Inuyasha questioned his eyebrow raising.

"I never said I wasn't going to speak to you again." Shippo answered softly, he was snuggled next to Sango.

"I just assumed." Inuyasha said.

"It's very easy to take my hurt feelings out on you, Inuyasha. I suppose I'll end up taking it from you too but it's a way to cope. Deep in our hearts some of what we say won't really be true." Shippo said not looking at him.

"So we'll be arguing as usually, huh?" Inuyasha asked closing his eyes and resting his head against the tree again.

"I'll be depressed if we don't." Shippo answered

"You plan on staying with me then?"

"I never thought otherwise." Shippo answered turning his head slightly and looking up at Inuyasha in his tree. "You planning on telling me to go away?"

"I gave up trying to get rid of you a long time ago." Inuyasha informed him.

"You never really meant it." Shippo said sure of himself.

"Don't be too sure. I finally just decided to consider you as a pet."

"Pet!"

"Shh!"

"You need people around who have as much common sense as me seeing as you have so little." Shippo said sarcastically.

"Common sense, huh? You mean like knowing that I'm the stronger and a capable protector and being with me is better than being alone." Inuyasha said knowing he had him.

"You're a bully." Was all Shippo could say.

"Common sense don't fail you now. Is that all you can say?" Inuyasha laughed.

Despite Shippo's grumble at being out down by Inuyasha he was happy to hear Inuyasha laugh. "I'll say what I said in the beginning you should get some sleep. Morning will be here soon."

Inuyasha laughed again and then all was silent. He realized that he had forgotten about having friends for support. Together they would cope with the loss of Kagome.

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"You will be prepared to do this today?" Kikyo asked Keade. They had spent the night making plans for reviving Kagome. It was all planned but would Keade be ready?

"There are a handful of things that I shall need to gather but I shall be prepared." Keade answered and then looked down at her hands.

"What is it?" Kikyo asked. They were sitting side by side before the fire.

"I shall loose you again." Keade's voice was chocked with tears.

Kikyo smiled softly. "Am I exactly as you remember me?"

"Oh, Onee-sama, I was so young when you died and it's been so many years."

"You don't have to spare my feelings."

Keade sighed and stared at the fire. Smiling when she remembered sitting just as they were now but fifty years ago. "You were kinder before you died."

"Yes but I always wished for a normal life. It was my undoing. If I had listened to you when you warned me about Onigumo not being a good person instead of seeing him as someone else who needed my kindness and charity we would be two old women sitting before this fire. Instead, I am a shell of the person I once was. I've used the time that fate has granted me to act selfishly and think of only myself for a change. Everyone's opinion of me has changed. I thought I could deal with that till I finally managed to make Inuyasha no longer want to be in my presence because I'll only be a reminder to him of what he's lost. It made me realize how Kagome must have felt and the satisfaction I once had is now remorse." Kikyo paused when she saw the surprised look on her sister's face.

"You took joy in the fact that Kagome was once a reminder of you? For she was but things have changed, he finally sees her as her own self." Keade said.

"Till I realized what that feels like, yes, I took great pleasure. And yes things have changed between them. They love each other." Kikyo answered.

"Yes they do." Keade said then swallowed hard before continuing. "You realize the risk involved in what we are planning?"

"Yes." Kikyo answered staring at the fire.

"I've never thought to attempt anything like this. There's a chance things may go wrong and…" Keade's stopped speaking when Kikyo put hand gently over her mouth.

"All that matters is that Kagome lives and I know you will not fail her." Kikyo removed her hand. "I must leave you now. You should try and get some rest you shall need your strength." Kikyo stood and waited for Keade to do the same, then she embraced her sister.

Keade felt tears sting at her eye and she laughed. "I've never hugged and been almost the same height as you before."

Kikyo laughed as well. "You're right." Kikyo pulled away and smiled at Keade while wiping away a tear that escaped. "I'll see you soon."

Keade nodded her head. "Yes." Keade walked her sister outside and watched as her sister walked away into the night.

Keade looked up to the starry sky and prayed that everything would work out all right. She prayed that Kikyo would find the peace she's searched for all her life and beyond. She prayed that Inuyasha and Kagome would be reunited before the end of the day coming. Keade prayed hardest that she would be able to right the wrong committed against an innocent.

"I have no idea how I shall sleep but I shall try." Keade said to herself before turning to reenter her hut.

Author's Note: I'm sorry it's so short and you've waited a week for it but I've been feeling under the weather lately and as it stands I'm not sure when my next update will be. The computer gives me a headache. Hope you liked it and that I'm feeling better soon so that the story can continue.