InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love and War ❯ Epilogue ( Chapter 19 )

Part nineteen: EPILOGUE

It was almost three years later that Inuyasha sat at his desk going through his mail. On nights like these was when he remembered her most. Calm quiet beautiful nights like these. It still brought tears to his eyes whenever he thought about Kagome. She was his love and his love was dead. Inuyasha didn't know that wishing on the jewel would kill her if he had known he wouldn't have allowed her to do so.

He found out from Kaede later that they knew and she made her promise not to say anything. Inuyasha thought about Kagome and thought she was both brave and stupid at the same time. It wasn't worth risking her own life to give me back something that was already gone. He realized later that Kagome didn't wish to bring back his parents. She made an entirely different wish.

The members of his pack all got a surprise when the loved ones they had lost years before started showing up. After a week of people coming back Inuyasha realized what had happened. Kagome's wish was to bring back all who lost their lives senselessly to Naraku and his men. Along with Inuyasha's parents being brought back to life, so did Miroku's and Shippo's. They all wanted to celebrate but were saddened at the reason why they were all back.

Kagome had a beautiful funeral. Not only did her family and friends attend but so did every member of the Dogs and their families as well. They all came to pay respects to the girl they owed their lives too. Tears fell from Inuyasha's eyes as he thought about how he would never be able to hold Kagome again. He was looking forward to the end of the battle so he could start a family with her. He wanted to settle down and she was the only one for him but she had been taken away by Naraku.

After her death and absorption into the jewel, they had tried their hardest with magic to bring her back. His father told him about the sword the Tenseiga that was supposed to have the power to give life back to the dead but it was powerless when it came to Kagome. All hope had drained from Inuyasha and he wanted to die himself. He was however given a reason to live when he was visited by four young women.

*FLASHBACK*

Inuyasha was sitting beside Kagome's grave a week after she was buried, looking down at the tombstone. He couldn't believe she was gone forever and never coming back. He thought that one day he would wake up and realize that it had all been just a dream and that she was by his side. He wasn't that lucky. His family and friends knew not to bother with him lately. They all gave him his space and allowed him to grieve.

He heard footsteps behind him and growled. He wasn't supposed to be bothered. He spun around to get rid of whoever it was intruding but something about the intruders calmed him and he didn't say a word.

"Inuyasha," said one of the four young women. They were all dressed in white miko robes and were looking down at him.

"Who are you?" he asked her as he looked at her suspiciously.

"Who I am isn't important. What I am and what I have is. I'm a miko. One of the four mikos trapped inside of the jewel. Inuyasha your mate had freed us with her one wish. She had the purest soul out of all of us standing here and the gods are grateful to have someone as good and pure as one of their own."

"Why are you telling me this? Why are you here?"

"I'm saying this to you Inuyasha because we want you to know that Kagome's death wasn't in vain. You know that. She did more than you think she did. She put the natural order of things back into place. Those who were taken before their times are here now and it is the way things were supposed to be."

"What about her? Wasn't she taken before her time? She was only eighteen years old."

"Yes in human years she was but Kagome was wise beyond her years. Inuyasha we cannot apologize to you enough for the sacrifice you were forced to make by giving up your mate but we can give you this," the woman said as she held out the Shikon jewel to him.

"What am I supposed to do with that? I thought I could only make one wish on it."

"That is true but the jewel no longer has the power of a wish. This is your Kagome's soul. I would have thought you would want to have it near you always. I think you may want to protect it."

Inuyasha looked down at the jewel in the girl's hand. It shimmered and shone with a light that none of them had ever seen before. That was definitely Kagome's soul. He reached out and took the jewel from the girl's hand. It was still connected to the chain that her grandfather had given her. When he held it in his hand he felt warmth seep into him and knew Kagome was still with him in a way.

"Protect it Inuyasha," the girl said. "One day she may come back to you."

When Inuyasha looked up to ask the girl what she meant they were gone. All of them. He turned back to the grave and said a silent prayer for his mate. He then slipped the chain around his neck and left. He would protect his Kagome with his life.

*End Flashback*

That was three years ago. No matter what he did he could not bring her back. The mikos were being cruel when they gave him hope of her coming back. Inuyasha had to resign to the fact that though he would not have Kagome with him physically, her soul would always be his. As he ruffled through the papers on his desk he spotted a letter.

It was in Kagome's handwriting and dated back a little over three years ago. His hands shook as he held it and didn't know if he should open it. He was curious as to what it would say but also afraid that she would confirm his greatest fear. She wasn't coming back. Inuyasha took a deep breath and slid a letter opener in the envelope and opened it. When he took the papers out he could smell Kagome's sweet scent on them and felt his stomach clench. He unfolded them and looked down at her handwriting. The first thing he saw as his name and he never thought it looked more beautiful. He began to read then. He wanted to know what his mate had wanted to say to him that she wasn't able to say in person.

My Dearest Inuyasha,

Words can not express what you mean to me and what I feel for you. I loved you with all of my heart and my soul Inuyasha. You were a vital part of me and I didn't want to leave nor lose you. I want to apologize to you first of all because by the time you find that I am probably already dead.

I know you must have been angry and upset with me but you and I both know that I had to do it. It was my destiny. I'm sure Kaede has told you by now that I'd known for a while that I would die. I pray you forgive me for my secrets and lies to you. I was trying to protect you. I knew if you had known the truth you wouldn't have allowed me to go with you to face Naraku and you might have died. I could not live without you.

I know that I'm forcing you to live without me but Inuyasha you must see this is the way it is supposed to be. The wish I am going to make is not the one you want me to but one that I think will be better for all. I hope this at least can testify that my death isn't in vain. I must admit that I feared dying in the beginning but I knew it was my fate and I trusted that everything would go according to plan.

I know we've said time and time again that we could not live without each other and I'm sure you are feeling that way but Inuyasha I ask that you move on. I love you and I don't want you to grieve for me forever. I'd prefer to be remembered in your happy thoughts and not as something sad. I know you think I died at an early age but I feel it didn't matter my age because a few months with you felt like a lifetime.

You made me a woman Inuyasha. You made me feel. I think I fell in love with you the moment I first saw you and never stopped loving you. I know we had some bad times but all relationships had them. I'm only happy that we resolved those and came back to each other. Inuyasha my time as your mate was the happiest time in my life. You loved me and I didn't think there was a better gift than that in the world.

We had planned that one day we would start a family again but my death has viciously put a stop to that. Inuyasha I ask that you not giving up on having a family. I ask that you find someone that can love you the way I did or more, though I am sure that is not possible, and settle down with her. Don't worry Inuyasha I shall not be angry if you choose to do this. In fact I would be very happy for you. All I ask is that you never forget me because I will never forget you.

Remember Inuyasha you were my first and only love. I will love you even after death and I will be with you forever. I ask that you tell the others that I am sorry as well and that I will miss them. I hope they are all happy with life and I hope you be happy too Inuyasha. Remember me. Love me as I will love you forever.

Your mate,

Kagome

Inuyasha cried shamelessly now. Why did she have to go? "Why Kagome? Why did you leave me?" he asked the night sky. "Why aren't you coming back?" Inuyasha held the Shikon in his hands. This was all he had left of her. Her soul and he would cherish it till the day he died. Inuyasha turned and put her letter in a place where it would always be safe and was ready to go to bed. He always went to bed alone with only the memories of his one true love.

Before he got there something weird started to happen. The jewel around his neck began to buzz and glow. He felt a surge of electricity shoot through his body to the tips of his toes and back. As if an invisible hand held it, the jewel was pulled from his neck and spun directly in front of his face. He reached out to touch it but his hand was blocked by sheer power. He drew it back as if he was burned and looked at the jewel. The light got brighter and the buzzing got louder. It stopped suddenly and Inuyasha could only look at it suspending in the air. Just when he thought everything was calm and back to normal...the jewel shattered.