InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Learning to Let Go ❯ Chapter 1

The sun was shining down on the field where a small group was gathered. The day was bright and warm, but it should have been dark and cold as far as they were concerned. The battle with Naraku had been fierce and thought they came out on top, it was not without casualties…

Kagome sat in the middle of the blood soaked field, cradling Inuyasha's bruised and bleeding body in her lap. She was rocking back and forth and biting her lip in an effort to unsuccessfully to stop the sobs. He coughed causing her to tighten her grip on his haori. His eyes were clenched shut, his hair was matted down with his blood and the blood of Naraku. Kagome smoothed the silvery locks back from his face, "It's ok, Inuyasha. Just hang on. We can get you some help. You'll be fine."

Inuaysha slowly opened his eyes through much effort and gave her a pained smile. He lifted his hand to wipe away the tears, "Don't cry. You know I hate it when you cry." This caused her to cry harder as she buried her face in his hair. "I'm sorry."

Her head snapped up, "Don't apologize. Don't you dare! This wasn't your fault!" She closed her eyes, her anger melting away to guilt, "If I had just moved…"

"No you don't understa…" He broke off when a sudden pain wracked his body.

"Inuyasha?" His eyes opened and his voice was just a whisper as he spoke before he went limp in her arms. She started to panic. Shaking him, she called out his name, and when she got no response, she called it louder. "Oh gods, please no. No. You're not dead. You can't be."

Kagome barely registered when Sango approached her carrying a crying Shippo in her uninjured arm, while an unconscious Miroku was being carried by Kirara. She didn't even acknowledge their presence until Sango tried to get her to leave. Kagome tightened her grip on Inuyasha, "NO! He's not dead!" She shook Inuyasha again, "You're not dead, do you hear me? You promised you wouldn't leave me!"

The tears were still streaming down her face when she crumpled into Inuyasha's chest, "I can't do this by myself. Please, don't leave me. I need you."

She let her agony be known to the world when she released a heart-wrenching cry, "INUYAHSHA!"

Kagome sprang up in bed, gasping for breath. She looked around a calmed slightly when she realized she was in her room. It was just a dream. Calm down, Kagome. It was just a dream. She took a steadying breath, but released it as a sob as the tears started to fall. "Just a dream."

When she had stopped the flood of tears and memories, she pushed back the covers and got out of bed. She walked down the hall, to her old room. She could hear each creak of the floor as she walked. The house has seems so quiet lately. She shook her head. Now is not the time to dredge up more memories. She stopped when she realized that she was in front of the door. Quietly opening it, to not wake, its occupant, she entered.

Making her way to the bed, she gazed down at the sleeping face of the little boy that it held. He looks so much like him. She thought absently as she pushed a few locks of dark gray hair from his face. Crouching down, she rested her chin atop folded arms and watched him sleep.

"Inuyasha…" The name escaped her lips before she even realized it, and when the small child moved she feared she had awoken him. Kagome breathed a sigh of relief when he just mumbled something about dinosaurs and settled back down. She couldn't help the small laugh that passed her lips. Standing up, she pulled the covers up to his chin and placed a kiss on the top of his head. He snuggled further into bed and she smiled down at him before making her way back to the door. "Goodnight, son…"

Just when it felt like Kagome had fallen asleep, she got a very rude wake up call by a certain gray haired little boy who was jumping mo her bed. She groaned, "Toru, honey, mommy is sleeping."

"Wake up!" Kagome just buried her head into the pillow. "You promised you would take me to the park."

She sighed, "Alright, I'm up." Kagome groggily sat up and looked at her son. He had stopped jumping and was on all fours at the bottom of the bed, smiling at her. One tiny fang was sticking out over his bottom lip. She smiled back at him despite where her thoughts were. Toru while looking for the most part human was starting to show some signs of demon abilities. His ears had always been a bit pointed at the top, but that was almost unnoticeable, but when one of his canines started to come in after he lost his baby tooth, she started to worry. It looked very much like a fang. She had no doubt that the other one would look the same. That could be written off easily enough though. Other people had fang like teeth. It wasn't that uncommon. Kagome sighed when he ran out of the room to go get dressed. Are other things going to start showing up? I've never raised a quarter demon before. Oh gods, Inuyasha why did you have to leave me alone?

"Sis, you ok?" Kagome was brought out of her thoughts when she heard her brother's voice. He was standing at the door, looking at her with very concerned eyes. That's when she realized she had been crying. She just nodded her head and wiped the tears away, not trusting her voice. "Are you sure?"

"Sota, I'm fine. I was just…" She shook her head.

Sota sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, "You were thinking about him again, weren't you?"

It was more of a statement than a question. "Yeah, but…I was thinking about other things too."

"Like what?"

"Like what's going to happen with Toru." When she saw the questioning look on her younger brother's face she continued. "He…What if he starts showing demon abilities like powers or something? How is he going to lead a normal life? What am I going to tell him? Finding out about Inu…about his father would crush him. I don't want to expose him to that. He's not ready to know."

Sota pulled his sister into an embrace, "We can deal with it if and when it shows up. Don't stress yourself out over things that might not happen."

"I wish mama was here."

He sighed, "I know. So do I." Sota kissed the top of her head and stood up, "I promised the guys I'd meet them for practice, but I could…"

Kagome cut him off with a wave of her hand, "No, I'll be fine. I'm the older sibling here remember? I'm supposed to be looking out for you."

Sota smirked before walking to the door, "Yeah whatever. I'll see you at dinner."

Kagome laughed and got out of bed. After throwing on a pair of jeans and a sweater, she made her way downstairs. Toru was sitting on the couch watching TV. She leaned over the back of the couch and dropped a kiss on the top of his head. "Want some breakfast?" He smiled and nodded. "Alright go on into the kitchen and I'll make you something."

"Toru be careful!" Kagome yelled when he ran off to go play on the monkey bars. She sat down on a bench and smiled. He is such a good climber. Just like his…

"Is that your son?" She looked up just as an elderly woman sat down next to her. Kagome nodded and smiled. "He's adorable."

"Thank you."

"That's my granddaughter." She pointed towards the swings, "The one with the pigtails and the pink dress."

"She's beautiful." The two lapsed into silence and Kagome brought her attention back to her son. He was walking on top of the monkey bars jumping from one bar to the next. Kagome shook her head. He is such a show off. It's amazing how much like a person you can be without actually meeting them. Must be genetic. She let a wry smile cross her face. She saw Toru jump down and go play with another boy. Maybe I should enroll him in martial arts classes. If he does start showing demon strength or anything else for that matter, it might help him control it. She was brought out of her thoughts when the elderly lady's granddaughter ran over.

"Grandma! Look was I found!" The little girl held out her hands to reveal a butterfly.

"Oh sweetheart, that's wonderful, but why don't you let it go. I'm sure it wants to get back to its family."

"Okay!"

"She's very happy little girl." Kagome commented when she skipped off.

"Yes, she is. I think she gets it from her..." Her sentence was interrupted by a scream.

Kagome felt her heart clench. "Toru," Was the only thing she said before she took off running. The knot in the pit of her stomach grew when she saw the group of children and a few parents in a circle around something. She pushed her way past the crowd. She could have sworn that her heart stopped at what she saw. Toru was lying on the ground at the base of a large tree and he wasn't moving. "Oh my god."

Kagome dropped down on the ground next to him and brushed the hair out of his face. She released a breath she didn't know she was holding when he groaned and his eyes opened. "Toru, are you okay?"

"Mommy?"

"Yeah, sweetie it's me."

"My arm hurt and my head is all fuzzy." He groaned again and closed his eyes. A few tears rolled down his face.

Kagome had to fight her own tears. She looked up at the crowd that was still around her. "Don't just stand there! Someone call an ambulance!"

She barely registered the fact that someone was making their was through the crowd telling everyone to move out of the way. Kagome could tell it was a man, but wasn't really paying much attention when Toru stopped moving again. "Not again, please god no. I can't lose him too."

"Miss? Are you alright?" The man knelt down in front of her and waved a hand in front of her face, but she didn't respond. I told him not to climb that tree. Why didn't he listen? "This is Detective Matsushita. I need an ambulance at Inokashira Park." He paused to check Toru's pulse, "There's a young boy or six or seven…"

"He's five." Kagome chocked out, still not taking her eyes off Toru.

"…Five, who is unconscious. His pulse is steady, but he appears to have a concussion." She heard him turn off his phone. "Miss, are you related to him?"

"I'm his mother." Kagome could no longer stop the onslaught of tears, "I don't know what happened. I took my eyes off him for a second and he…" Her breath caught in her throat when she finally looked up at the man who had called the ambulance. Her eyes went wide and she saw his lips moving but she couldn't hear what he was saying. A single word passed from her lips before she slipped into unconsciousness, "Inuyasha?"