InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Mermaids ❯ For Her Sake ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: Per usual, Inu-Yasha is not mine. But, someday soon, he will be! Bwahahahahaha! BWAHAHAHAHAHA! ::men in white coats drag her away::

Author's Note: Hey hey! I made it to my relatives house, and- well, so far, I've been having a rather nice time. (After I GOT here, of course. The drive was hell on wheels.) I got to show off some of my sketches and make cupcakes and hang out with one of my favorite aunt. XD

Anyway, here I go with part 4. This is the last part- but there WILL be one more chapter. An epilogue. So no worries, right? :-)

Please enjoy!

(PS. I was glad to hear that you all liked Sango and Miroku's duet. I was sure that at least one person was going to give me grief on that. ;-) )

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Mermaids

Part IV: For Her Sake

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"So, sailor. . . I hear this is your last day `round these parts."

"You heard right," Inu-Yasha smiled faintly, lifting his tankard towards the man speaking to him. Said man nodded, taking a swig from his own mug with a grin.

"Can't wait to head out, huh?"

"Mmm," the silver haired male replied in syllable monotone, not quite answering the way he was expected to. All the same, no one pressed him for a better response; instead opting to cast furtive glances at Brandy. The poor girl looked a downright mess- her face pale, her eyes puffy and red, and her normally neat braid disheveled. She and Inu-Yasha kept locking gazes- but only for brief instants.

She always turned away before he could wink or grin or do any of the other flirtatious things he did on a regular basis and was now well known for.

Even Kikyo seemed a bit out of it- her thin lips a bit thinner as she alternated between shooting the sea man strained looks and her friend worried expressions. But something else seemed to be weighing heavy on her mind. . .

Only Sango and Miroku appeared to be happy- but even there happiness was watered down thanks to the terrible state of their friends.

Customers were beginning to worry.

"Say, Brandy," one man called cheerfully, waving the girl over. She forced a smile in his direction and nodded, slowly padding over with a fixed expression.

"What can I get you?" she asked listlessly, trying to act sweet but failing.

"What would you suggest, love?"

". . . I'd suggest you remove your hand from my rear." Her tone was nowhere near playful- not like usual. Instead she had become deadly calm, eerily casual.

He very quickly removed his offending hand and returned to his drink.

"Do you have any idea what's wrong, Kikyo?" Sango questioned, concerned, as she walked back into the kitchens with a platter of dirty dishes. "She was like this yesterday, too! It's not normal for Kagome to be so. . .so. . . so. . . dead."

The second waitress didn't reply, only nodded in agreement- the torn expression on her face intensifying.

-

`The worst thing in the world,' Kagome decided later that night, walking hand and hand with Inu-Yasha through the misty midnight world, `is silence.'

Yes. . . Silence was probably the very worst. When you were alone, what was there? Silence. When you were deaf, what was there? Silence. When you were sick and confined to a room, what was there? Silence. When you were dead? . . . Silence.

All the worst things in the world were somehow connected to silence.

Silence. . . like the silence right now.

Kag wetted her dry lips, about to force something- anything- from her mouth, when she felt the sailor's hand tighten around her own. She knew him well enough by now to realize that this was the signal he gave before he started talking. But instead of simply speaking- he stopped, leaving them alone in the middle of the huge brick bridge that arched over the very outskirts of the bay- the closest to the sea that Brandy had ever allowed herself to be. Inu-Yasha stared briefly down into her eyes as she turned to him- surprised- his own glittering in the light from the nearby street lamps. Squeezing her hands again as they leaned against the decorative stone ledge, he opened his mouth- - -

And Kagome found that she didn't want to hear what he had to say.

"Tell me a story," she whispered before he could speak, her pale face shining in the moonlight. "Tell me a tale. Tell me anything." `Just not good bye. . .'

The sailor looked for a moment like he was about to protest, but then sighed and nodded, forcing a small smile onto his face. He understood. . . he felt the same. He didn't want to admit this was the end.

". . .

Did I ever tell you," he began softly, voice cracking as he fought back his own sadness. She was so beautiful, so kind- his heart was breaking just by looking at her. "About the time I found my mermaid. . . ?"

"N-no," Kagome choked, breath hitching in her throat as she lifted their linked hands to her heart, holding them close. "Tell me. . ."

Inu-Yasha winced when he felt her warm tears splatter against his flesh, crystalline pearls of iridescent sorrow. "I was looking around some tiny harbor town, seeking a pint or two to drown in while I waited for the damage report on my ship. All my crew had gone off by themselves, hoping to find someone to sleep with for the night. I wasn't into that sort of thing, so I followed them for a bit and then left when they told me of a little, but well known, tavern near the shores. Autumn Leaves, they said it was called." He gently pulled his hand out of hers, allowing it to trail down her silky skin as she lifted her face to his. He thumbed her tears away, gently removing the ribbon from her hair and allowing the glossy midnight locks to dance free in the wind. "When I walked inside I was greeted with the most beautiful of sights. . .a gorgeous bartender who took my breath away." He frowned slightly as Kagome adverted her eyes, a warm flush blossoming on her cheeks. "Unfortunately she was out of my league. At least, that's what she told me when I talked to her. Claimed she hated sailors. All the same. . . I couldn't help but fall head-over-heals in love with her."

In. . . love. . . ?

Brandy's stormy orbs widened in bewilderment as she ripped her gaze from the ground and stuck it upon the man before her, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. "Inu- - -" She began, but silenced herself when one of his callused, slender fingers pressed itself gently to her lips.

"But. . ." he continued quietly, "No matter how much I love her, my mermaid- the one I want to spend the rest of my days with- I can't. . . I can't stand the land. . . My place the sea. I can only hope that she understands."

The girl swallowed as the man slowly lowered his hand, waiting for her to add insult to injury. It took her a moment; however- she was too busy trying to piece together her shattered hopes. But when she was ready she took a deep, shuddering breath and spoke:

"Will you. . . still love this mermaid of yours, even when you're gone. . . ?" she questioned, voice wavering. She couldn't help but lift her hands to his face, tracing his features with a feather light touch; committing them to eternal memory.

He nodded; not trusting words as she rested her palm upon his cheek, chin trembling when he covered her hand with his own. "Forever."

"Promise?"

He nodded once again, leaning instinctively forward as she pushed herself slowly onto her tiptoes, eyes fluttering shut.

"Then. . ." she murmured against his lips, her breath sending fog into the brisk air, "it will be okay for me to say that. . .

I love you, too. . ."

"Heh," he chuckled quietly, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist as her own encircled his neck. "I know, love. . ." he admitted softly. "I know."

And all space between them disappeared.

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Kagome felt a lump lodge itself in her throat as she watched Inu-Yasha disappear into the darkness from her front steps; hands clasped around a shimmering heart that now lay gracefully upon her collarbone, decorating her neck perfectly.

She could still hear his words in her mind. . .

=`I got this for you,' he whispered into her ear as they held each other close. `I hope you like it. . .' She moved away slightly as she felt something fall over her head. Looking down she was surprised to find herself staring at a locket.

`Oh. . .' she gasped, touching it gingerly with the tip of her finger. `Inu-Yasha, it's lovely, it- - - why does it have your name upon it?' She blinked questioningly up at him, though she seemed a bit amused. He grinned widely at her, his canines sparkling.

`It's like my claim to you,' he teased. `Marks you. Mine.'

`Like a collar?' she giggled, beaming when he, too, laughed.

`Yes, like a collar. Only a collar made of the most expensive damn silver I could find- so don't you go loosing that.'

`Never,' she swore honestly, holding him as close as she possibly could. `Never ever! I'll cherish it- it's precious! I love it. Thank you. . .'

Silence blanketed the pair for a few moments, and then, quite suddenly, Inu-Yasha spoke:

`. . . Come with me.'

. . . ?!

Kag blinked in surprise, looked quickly up into the now shining eyes of Inu. `What?'

`Come with me!' he repeated excitedly. `We can sail off together! We can start a new life! I have plenty of money- you wouldn't need to work or- - - or. . .'

He trailed off as he registered Brandy's slowly shaking head, the soft, joyless giggle escaping her lips. `You know I can't do that. My promise. My business. I can't. . .'

. . .

He sighed, running his fingers through her hair. `. . . I know. . . I just- - - I know. . .

. . .

At least come to the docks tomorrow and. . . say good bye?'

Kagome didn't respond- instead, her arms only tightened around his waist. He knew the answer.

`I love you,' she whispered. `I love you so much. . .'

`I love you, too,' he replied softly, closing his eyes against reality. `So you better wear your collar while I'm gone.'

She grinned slightly. `I promise. I'll never take it off.' =

Kagome only realized that she was crying when she felt the tears fall upon her clasped hands, trickling through her fingertips and warming the cool metal. She could no longer see the sailor- he had vanished in the nighttime fog.

He was gone.

And her heart was gone with him.

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The next day dawned bright, sunny- the ocean a huge turquoise gem that blended perfectly with the powder blue sky. The town bustled happily as the aspens shook in the wind, their leaves greeting and waving `so long!' all at once. Not one cloud obscured the heavens, and not one ship littered the sea.

But that was soon about to change.

Inu-Yasha sighed, heart heavy as he helped tug his flags up the mast, his shirt unbuttoned and his cloak on the deck. As he hopped indifferently- and a bit randomly- from ship to dock, he couldn't help but peer hopefully towards the tiny city; surveying said terrain under his hand.

His friends knew he was waiting for someone.

He was the only one that knew she wouldn't come.

But that didn't stop him from hoping. . .

"Little brother," one man frowned down at Inu, his own golden eyes unable to hide his slight concern. "Are you all right?"

"Huh? Oh. . . Yeah, I'm fine, Sessho-Maru," he replied a bit dully, straightening his vest. "I'm fine. . . Let's get going."

"Are you sure?" The elder man arched a graceful eyebrow. "Aren't you waiting for someone?"

Inu-Yasha smiled humorlessly. "No. Let's ge- - -"

"Wait!"

?

All men on board turned rather suddenly, blinking blankly at the docks. A young adult- a young, very female adult- with long ebony hair was running closer, waving frantically. For the briefest of moments Inu-Yasha's hopes rose- but died just as quickly.

It wasn't Kagome.

"Kikyo? What the hell are you doing here?" he frowned, a bit confused as the bartender came to a screeching halt at the end of the dock, winded and pink in the face.

"W. . . wait. . ." she panted, taking a moment to press her hands to her knees and collect herself. Inu-Yasha leapt next to her, crossing his arms and waiting for her to explain.

"Yes. . . ?" he pressed, tapping his foot as his crew exchanged glances. "I'm waiting."

Kikyo took one more deep breath and then straightened, pushing a few stray locks of hair behind her ears. Two hoops of midnight refused to listen to her, however, and ended up lazily looping her ears; resting against her shoulders. "You. . . can't go. . ." she announced.

". . . Why?" Inu-Yasha asked blankly. "Kikyo, I'm sorry, but in case I haven't been FORWARD enough, I'm really not interested in y- - -"

"It's not about me!" she snapped, gray eyes cold. "It's about Brandy- about Kag!" She paused, watching the emotions change on the sailor's face. They went from irritation to shock to hurt and then back to irritation within the span of two seconds. She sighed.

"Look. I understand. . ." she whispered, playing with the hem of her apron, "that you're not interested in me. I'm not STUPID. I know. But this isn't about me in any way." Her voice was gradually growing louder as tears formed behind her eyes. "It's about one of my best friends- my best friend who came to work sobbing today. My best friend who can't even manage a smile for Sango, Miroku and me. My best friend who's dying inside- because of you!" She jabbed a finger painfully in his chest, glaring. "You- one of the asshole sailors she swore she'd never fall for! Can't you see how much you mean to her?! Can't you see how much she cares?! She threw one of her morals out the window for you! Doesn't that mean anything?! Don't you love her?!"

"Of course I do. . ." he whispered, taken aback by the female's forwardness. "I love her with all my heart. . ."

"Then STAY!" Kikyo begged, a tear slipping down her cheek. "STAY! For her sake! Please. . ."

Inu-Yasha had never been more torn in his life. He looked from his boat and crew to the silently seething bartender before him. He wanted with all his heart to do just as Kikyo asked- he wanted to stay with Kagome! But he couldn't. Like they say, you can't always get what you want. This was his job- his home- his life. He couldn't stand the land- just like Brandy couldn't stand the sea.

He turned back to Kikyo, staring deep into her pleading eyes.

". . . I'm sorry," was all he could manage to say. That's all he needed to.

Walls of rage instantly formed behind her steely orbs. She took an automatic step backwards, clenched hands trembling. "WHY?!"

"I just- I just CAN'T," he insisted, trying to thing of some way to make the girl before him understand as she rapidly shook her disbelieving head. "I j- - -"

"No," she spat, turning away on her heel. "I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear anything for you, you lying bastard. I. . . I. . ." her voice wavered with rage. "I HATE YOU!"

With that, she raced off, furious and crying.

And a single vessel disappeared on the horizon.

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Remember the happy ending I promised? Next chapter. XD Besides, this can't be the end! We haven't finished the song yet! (-;

Please R&R!

Ja ne!