InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Let You Go ❯ Let You Go ( Chapter 1 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
A/N: I hope this works. Last time I uploaded this it looked all funny and stuff.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha (obviously). Rumiko Takahashi does.
~
Let You Go
Inuyasha sniffed the night air. The moon was high and glowing, light dew sprinkled the ground, and the air was thick with the scent of wildflowers. The entire landscape was bathed in a milky glow of cool light. The moon gave everything a dreamy and ethereal sort of beauty. The type that you would think of when dreaming about magical places and far-off fairytales.
Inuyasha `keh-ed'. He hated nights like these. They always brought back certain memories that he would much rather like to forget. It was nights like these that he thought about her.
His eyes darkened for a moment. Brows furrowing, he thought about what had happened, and why he had so desperately wanted to forget her. But Inuyasha knew he could never forget Kagome. No matter how much his mind wanted to, his heart wouldn't allow it. Inuyasha looked solemnly over at the bone-eaters well from his perch in the tree. Oh yes, he remembered why he wanted to forget her. It was because it was on a night like this that he lost her…forever.
^
“You're going back home again?!” Inuyasha barked angrily.
Kagome slung her backpack over her shoulder as she swung her legs over the edge of the well. “Yes, Inuyasha. Mid-terms are coming up and I have to study extra hard if I want get a good grade!”
“Feh! You don't need to go to school! You need to help us collect the Jewel shards! That's what you're here for, wench!”
Kagome flipped her head around to glare. “Is that really all I'm good for, Inuyasha?” Her icy tone sent shivers down his spine. “You know, the Jewel's almost complete. After we defeat Naraku, there really won't be a reason for me to stay here. Unless, Inuyasha, you can think of a good reason why I should stay?” Her eyes glimmered with a hope and nervousness that betrayed her cold tone of voice.
Inuyasha felt his cheeks redden. Did she mean-? Him and her? She couldn't possibly. Of course not. That was insane. He was imagining things. “Keh!” he turned away abruptly. “I don't care what you do after Naraku's gone!”
Inuyasha thought he could smell the faint scent of tears. He looked at her glistening eyes and his heart fell. “I'll-I'll see you in a couple weeks, Inuyasha,” she managed to stutter out before swinging herself over the edge of the well and into the future.
Inuyasha felt bad. He waited about a week before finally forcing himself to go to Kagome's side of the well to apologize. He raced to her house, his heart hammering. The past week had caused him to realize something. He knew that he couldn't live a life without Kagome. After Naraku was gone, he wanted her to stay with him. He wanted to be with her forever. That was what he was going to tell her.
Inuyasha jumped up to the windowsill leading to Kagome's bedroom. The room was dark and he couldn't see anything. As he was peering in, Souta happened to walk by. “Inuyasha!” he bounded happily over to the window and opened it. “Whatcha doing here?” Souta cocked his head to the side as he looked up with admiring eyes at his “hero.”
Inuyasha caught the faint trace of Kagome's scent, but it didn't seem like she was in the house. “Wh-Where is Kagome?”
“She's out on a date, Inuyasha,” Souta replied happily. “Why do you ask?”
“A date?” Inuyasha murmured. “What's a…date?”
Kagome's mom had walked by just then. She had heard Souta and Inuyasha talking. When Inuyasha asked that final question her heart sank a little. It was so obvious that the hanyou cared for Kagome. Why couldn't she get her daughter to see that?
Tell me his name
I want to know
The way he looks
And where you go
I need to see his face
I need to understand
Why you and I came to an end
Inuyasha went back to the Feudal Era that night. He sat brooding by the well, thinking about what Souta had said. Kagome's scent suddenly filled his nostrils and he perked up a bit. To his great amazement, he saw her swing her legs over onto the grass as she emerged from the bone-eaters well.
“Ka-Kagome! What are you doing here?”
Kagome chose to ignore that rather blunt question. Her eyes seemed to be glazed over in bliss and she sighed contentedly as she sat down beside him.
“Kagome?”
His voice broke through her daydreams and she looked over at him. A slight blush tinged her cheeks. “Souta told me you came while I was gone,” she murmured. “I came back to find out why.”
“Oh,” Inuyasha could feel his face heating up. He turned to look at her and gulped. Leaning forward, he cupped her face and looked into her eyes. She looked surprised by his action and looked up at him with wide eyes. Pulling together every ounce of courage he could muster, he finally let his heart say what it wanted. “Kagome, I'm sorry for the way I've treated you ever since you got here.” He paused. “I-I wanted to let you know that…I do care about you. And I- I don't think that I could live my life without you. I want to be with you, Kagome. I love you.”
Inuyasha looked into her face, searching for an answer. He was shocked by what he saw. Her eyes shone with unshed tears and they were filled with sorrow and pain. She bit her lip and her shoulders shook slightly. “Oh, Inuyasha!” she cried before flinging her arms around him. He held her as she cried. He was so confused by what she did and he just patted her on the back awkwardly. He had expected her to be happy by his declaration. But from the tone in her voice, it sounded more like she pitied him.
“Kagome,” he asked quietly. “What's a date?”
At this she began sobbing even harder. “Souta told you about that?” she managed to choke out.
Inuyasha nodded his head.
“I went on a date because you were too late, Inuyasha. It means I've let someone else court me.”
Inuyasha's eyes darkened at the statement. He looked down at her. “But that doesn't mean you like him, right?” He looked at her pleadingly.
Kagome looked away. That was all the answer he needed.
Tell me again
I want to hear
Who broke my faith in all these years
Who lays with you at night
While I'm here all alone
Remembering when I was your own
Inuyasha sat silently by the well.
Over the past few months Kagome had been coming back to the Feudal Era less and less and her visits were getting shorter each time. Every time she would swing herself onto the grass and have a silly smile plastered across her face. Inuyasha would sniff the air. She would always have the same scent on her. Her boyfriend's scent. Every single time Inuyasha would ask, “Who were you with?” in the bleak hopes that she would slip up and tell him. But Kagome would always look ashamed and remain silent.
One time he asked her mom why Kagome would be ashamed of it. Her reply shocked him to no end. “It's because she's still in love with you, Inuyasha.”
Inuyasha looked down at his feet. “Then why isn't she with me?” he whispered.
Miss Higurashi didn't have a reply. She just looked at him sadly.
I let you go
I let you fly
Why do I keep on asking why
I let you go
Now that I found
A way to keep somehow
More than a broken vow
Inuyasha's ears perked up as Kagome's scent began to emanate from the well. She was back! He remembered the conversation he had with Miss Higurashi a couple days ago. She had suggested that he show Kagome how much he really loved her. “Kagome's always extra happy when her boyfriend gets her something. It's his way of saying that he cares about her.”
Now if only Inuyasha could prove his love for Kagome, then maybe then he could win her back. As she struggled to bring herself out of the well, Inuyasha grabbed her hand and hoisted her up. “Inuyasha!” she squeaked as she let her backpack drop to the ground. She looked up into his eyes as he held her. They hadn't been this close since that one night long ago when he held her as she cried. They hadn't been this close since the night she told him she was with someone else.
Tell me the words I never said
Show me the tears you never shed
Give me the touch
The one you promised to be mine
Or has it vanished for all time
“Kagome,” Inuyasha began. “I know there are a lot of things that I can't give to you. But can you at least let my try? I'll be good to you. I won't hurt you. I won't let anyone or anything for that matter harm you. Please, won't you let me love you?”
Kagome gasped slightly. Her lip began to tremble as she looked up into his eyes.
It was true. Her mom was right. She had never stopped loving Inuyasha. She closed her eyes as he began to lean down to kiss her. After all, this was what she wanted. Right?
His lips touched hers and she began crying. The taste of salt mingled with the sweet taste of her lips. Inuyasha's eyebrows furrowed as he tried to pour out every ounce of love that he had into that kiss. Her lips parted in silent submission. He knew what she wanted. He took the invitation and dove his tongue into her mouth.
Kagome let out a short moan. She was finally kissing Inuyasha and she could feel the love that he had for her. She kissed him desperately, never wanting this moment to end. She wanted to be lost in his embrace forever.
Hojo-kun. The name passed before her mind before she could block it. She wondered repeatedly why she couldn't have just waited for Inuyasha? Why did she have to give Hojo a chance? Why did Hojo have to capture her heart as well?
She broke the kiss and looked down at the ground. I just cheated on Hojo, she thought silently.
“Kagome?”
She looked up at Inuyasha. Guilt and shame etched her face.
“You love him, don't you?”
Inuyasha saw the conflicting emotions battling across her face. Love? Kagome had never really thought about loving Hojo. She knew she cared for him deeply, but now that Inuyasha had asked her that question…she wasn't quite sure.
Inuyasha's heart fell at her hesitation. “Kagome, I—”
The smell of miasma filled his nostrils. Searching wildly, he saw the one thing that he did not need right now.
“Kagome, duck!” He pulled her down to the ground just as one of Naraku's tentacles shot above them. Kagome's eyes widened in fear. If- If they hadn't moved, they would've been…
“Naraku,” Inuyasha glared. Standing up, he unsheathed his Tetsaiga. “I was wondering when your smelly ass would show up.”
Naraku chuckled. “My jewel is almost complete, Inuyasha. Now all I need are the shards that your miko carries.”
Kagome let out a scream as one of Naraku's tentacles advanced on her. Inuyasha dodged forward just in time, cutting off the offending appendage. She watched in horror as Inuyasha continued to slash and cut, sometimes just barely saving her in time. It had happened twice in a row now. He was beginning to tire.
Naraku saw this and sent two tentacles flying towards her. “Inuyasha!” Kagome screamed in terror. She closed her eyes in anticipation for the blow. Instead, thought, she felt something warm splatter on her face. Opening her eyes, she gasped in horror. Inuyasha had been able to cut off one tentacle but he had been too slow at getting the other one. Instead, he had thrown himself in front of it, taking the full force of the blow. Naraku's tentacle had shot right through him.
Naraku laughed as he withdrew the tentacle, leaving a big gaping whole in the middle of the hanyou's chest. “Inuyasha!” Kagome cried as he fell to the ground.
Naraku chuckled evilly. “Now, I will take what is rightfully mine.”
“Oh no you won't.” Inuyasha had managed to pull himself back onto his feet. “I promised Kagome I would never let anyone or anything harm her. And I'm not about to break that promise just because of you, Naraku.”
Kagome screamed as Inuyasha was battered mercilessly. Finally, Inuyasha fell at her feet. Naraku grinned. “Inuyasha…” she murmured.
He looked up at her. “Leave, Kagome!” he commanded in a voice no louder than a whisper. It was getting difficult for him to breathe. “Jump into the well! Save yourself! Take the jewel shards with you and never come back!”
“But, I—”
“Do it, Kagome! You don't want to have two boys grieving senselessly over your dead body, do you?!”
“I—”
“GET OUT OF HERE!!!”
With the last ounce of strength that he could muster, Inuyasha lifted Kagome up and threw her into the well. She yelled as she fell, and then she vanished. Naraku noticed that the miko's scent had disappeared.
“What have you done with the wench?” he glared at Inuyasha.
“I let her go,” Inuyasha grinned triumphantly. “You'll never be able to hurt her again. You'll never get the jewel shards, Naraku. It's over.”
I let you go
I let you fly
Why do I keep on asking why
I let you go
Now that I found
The way to keep somehow
More than a broken vow
Naraku howled in frustration. He shot a tentacle towards Inuyasha. The hanyou leapt away just in time as pieces of wood flew everywhere. The well was destroyed. Kagome could never come back. Inuyasha wiped away some of the blood on his mouth and stood in a ready stance. Tetsaiga glowed in waiting.
“Now it's time for you to die, Naraku!”
“Foolish hanyou,” Naraku seethed. “I will make you pay for what you have done!”
The battle was long and fierce. There were several times when Inuyasha only barely avoided Naraku's attacks. At last, Inuyasha finally saw his chance and was able to release the Wind Scar. A bright flash appeared and then…it was over. Naraku was dead.
Inuyasha sank to the ground. The moonlight bathed his bloodstained body in an unearthly, ethereal sort of glow. He smiled faintly. It was over. He had defeated Naraku…all by himself. He looked over to see the Naraku's side of the Shikon no Tama glowing beside him.
Inuyasha was beginning to grow faint. He laid his head down into the dewy grass and breathed in the sweet scent of wildflowers. “We did, Kagome,” he whispered quietly. “We won…” He closed his eyes and let darkness envelope him as the full moon shown high overhead.
I close my eyes
And dream of you and I
And then I realize
There's more to love than only bitterness and lies
I close my eye
I'd give away me soul
To hold you once again
And never let this promise end
Inuyasha woke up late the next day. He slowly opened his eyes and was confused at first. He saw shapes hovering over him and caught the smell of herbs and medicine. He tried to sit up but felt the force of someone's hand gently holding him down.
“Inuyasha, you're too weak still. Get some more rest.” Miroku's voice. As always, the voice of reason.
“Kagome…” he whispered.
“Inuyasha, sleep.”
He happily complied.
Days later, Inuyasha was once again sitting by the well. Or at least what remained of it. Naraku had really done his damage. Pieces of wood were strewn everywhere. Miroku and Sango had done their best to try to pick up everything, but even they couldn't pick up all the pieces.
Inuyasha picked up a tiny piece of wood in his hand. He looked at it for a long time before stuffing it into the pocket of his haori. As soon as he could get up (or at least as soon as Kaede-sama let him), he had bolted out of the hut and ran here as fast as he could. Desperately, he had thrown himself into the remains of the well. He wanted to see Kagome again. He needed to see Kagome again. She was his life. Without her, he was dead.
He valiantly found back the tears when he realized that he couldn't get through. He lost a part of himself that day as he tried in vain to claw his way through to the other side of the well. He slumped in defeat.
That was two months ago.
Inuyasha came back every day. Every time he hoped that Kagome would emerge from the empty ruins and run back into his arms. He could envision her wide chocolate eyes sobbing as she too tried to get back through the well. He could imagine her frustration at him for leaving her closed off from him. He often wondered whether she hated him for it. She probably didn't even realize that the well was destroyed. When he thought about it, he realized that she didn't even know if he had lived or died. She must be worried sick.
“Inuyasha.”
Miroku had walked up behind him as he was thinking. He rested a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder.
“I miss her.”
“I know you do, Inuyasha,” Miroku looked at him sadly. “We all do.”
He was telling the truth. Every since the group had found out that the well was destroyed and that no one could time travel through it anymore, everyone had been in low spirits. Sango had cried quietly when she thought no one was looking, Shippo burst into tears anytime someone mentioned Kagome's name, and even Miroku had been unusually silent these days. He had even layed off the groping. The way they acted, it was as if Kagome had died. In a way, though, she had. None of them would ever see her again…at least not in this lifetime.
Miroku, however, was always trying to be optimistic. “You'll see her again, Inuyasha. She loved you, didn't she? And you loved her.”
Inuyasha's eyes clouded. Yes, he did love her. But did she love him at the end? Yes, a little voice told him. You were her first love. She'll always love you. She'll never forget.
Inuyasha smiled sadly. A determined look grew in his eyes. “Yes, I will find a way to see her at least one more time.” He stood up and walked over to the well. Miroku watched from a distance as Inuyasha began whispered a promise. “Kagome, I'll see you again. Don't wait for me, though. That could be a long time. I- I want you to be happy.”
He was being truthful when he said that. Inuyasha's one dream for Kagome was that she would be happy and live a long and prosperous life. He only wanted the best for her.
“I hope that whoever you end up with loves you as much as I do.”
As Inuyasha walked away he promised himself from that point on that there would be no more tears and no more regrets. He hardened his heart, knowing that no one but Kagome could ever make it melt again. He knew that he could never move on. A part of him ached because he knew that she would.
“I'm letting you go…be happy.”
I let you go
I let you fly
Now that I know, I'm asking why
I let you go
Now that I found
A way to keep somehow
More than a broken vow
^
Inuyasha remembered everything when looked at the remains of the bone-eaters well. It was his own fault that he had lost Kagome. If the well hadn't gotten sealed off, he often wondered what choice she would have made? Would she have stayed with her boyfriend…or would she have run back to him?
Many years had passed since those memories. He was now old. He sometimes wanted to forget Kagome just to stop his heartache…but he couldn't. He would always love her. He came this particular night because of one thing.
He was dying.
It wasn't because he was injured. He was just old. Old and alone. Miroku and Sango had passed on long before him because they were mere humans and he was a half-demon. Shippo was still there, but he had grown into a remarkable young man and started a family on his own. His wife and two young boys would've made Kagome smile with pride and delight.
Inuyasha laid by the well and reached into his haori. He pulled out a faintly glowing object. The Shikon Jewel. Sango had held onto it ever since Naraku had been defeated. But when she died, she gave it to Inuyasha. “Remember this, Inuyasha, and may it warm your heart,” she had said only hours before she passed, “This is only half of the Jewel. You know where the other half lies.”
Kagome...
Inuyasha looked at the Jewel. Clutching it tightly in his hands, he closed his eyes and smiled. “I'll see you on the other side,” he whispered. “I promised I'd see you again.”
By the time the sun rose, one inu-hanyou had disappeared from this world, along with half of the Shikon no Tama. In the next, one soul's broken heart was finally being pieced back together.
OWARI
~
A/N: My first attempt at a songfic. I hope it went well. Please review. Feedback would be greatly appreciated! Arigatoo gozaimasu! ^.^