InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nigatsu no Hoshi (Stars of February) ❯ February Stars ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: inuyasha still isn't mine…yet

A/N - please tell me what you think, all criticism is welcome. Hope you like this chapter. Tell me if you want me to make the story move faster, slower, or what.

Chapter 2: unnerving questions with feared answers

Back in the village, Sango had dressed Miroku's wounds, they weren't lethal, but he wouldn't be able to use his left hand for a while. Shippou was playing with Kirara, he was overjoyed to see his adoptive mother come back from the battle, he had feared the worse after seeing what happened to Miroku when he came back unconscious, alone with Kirara. Kagome was making dinner while inuyasha silently sat next to her watching. Sango came out from the hut and sat across from the fire, causing inuyasha to silently sigh, he treasured the time he was able to spend alone with Kagome, even if it was simply watching her make food. Something had caught his eye as of late . She had become even more confident with in the past year, always holding the group together when things got bad. She was always there for him, never leaving his side when things got too dangerous or he would become unbearable to be around, or hurt her. He didn't know if the change in her was because of the awakening of her power or because they were so close to gathering all the jewel shards. He couldn't lie to himself, she was also drop-dead gorgeous, although even he knew she didn't know it. However, she was so mature, and he couldn't even fight with her as they used too, shed walk away or reason before she got mad. Although, he did do a few things that pissed her off. Mainly was when he beat up on shippou, or when he came to her time unannounced and dragging her back with him. But now, even shippou had matured into an almost tolerable young kitsune, and kagome would stay in his time for months at a time now, since she wasn't in highschool and she is waiting to finish they're hunt before starting college. `What's going to happen when the battles over with Naraku and the jewels complete?' Then realization kicked in `How much longer do I have with her before she has to leave me? She's not going to stay here, there'd be no reason.' His eyes went wide as he stared at the ground in an attempt to keep the look in his eyes hidden behind his bangs.

As if reading his mind Sango spoke, "kagome-Chan, we are getting close to finding the rest of the shards, aren't we?" Kagome paused and then smiled at Sango, " I was going to wait until after dinner to discuss this with you guys…but I'm pretty sure that we may have all the remaining shards that Naraku hasn't been able to get…all but kouga-kun's I'm pretty sure…" her smile wavered at the thought of Kouga somehow having to lose his shards, it wouldn't be likely that he'd give them up.

Sango's face seemed to glow as she leaned forward in disbelief. "are you sure Kagome-Chan?" "pretty positive Sango-Chan…"

"well aren't you excited? Our long and painful search is about to end! There's just Naraku to get rid of, and then its o, ove-r" she trailed off a little as the word left her mouth, "over" she said again. "yes I know Sango-Chan, it will all be over, the legend of the Shikon no Tama will be completed" …'and the legend of Lady Kagome, the miko who found her unfinished destiny in a strange world, and traveled with the hanyou Inuyasha and friends, will be…history…' she sadly added, as the smile was completely wiped from her face. They didn't even remember inuyasha was there until he slowly got up, face emotionless but still pointed at the ground. Then he turned and walked into the forest that held his name, slowly fading into the darkness.

Miroku came out of the hut and walked to where Sango and Kagome were watching something in the forest. "is it another youkai?" Sango answered since kagome was still confused as to why he had left so strangely. "no, just a poor confused hanyou Houshi-sama." Miroku nodded in understanding then lowered himself to the ground using his staff for support. He sat next to Sango. Sango was staring into the fire and Kagome was still staring blankly into the woods, so he sighed to himself and decided he couldn't take the tension any longer.

All Kagome heard was "WHACK!" "Hentai, I shouldn't have treated your wounds, I should have immobilized the other arm too instead."

Kagome closed her eyes, tilted her head to the ground and smiled…'some things will never change…I'm glad. I wish more things were that way' and with that thought, kagome stood in the same fashion as inuyasha had, and walked away silently.

Inuyasha stiffened when he heard Sango stumble on her words when she tried to say "over". Moreover, when he heard Kagome say that the "legend" would be complete, did that mean that she would no longer be needed here? Since she would have completed what Kikyou was unable to do, when Naraku threw fate off course…would she be permanently sealed on the other side? He couldn't take it anymore, he had to get away from these unnerving questions he was bombarding himself with, so he stood and left, not noticing the concerned stare of Kagome as he walked away.

Kagome walked along the forest floor, she knew where he would go, of course. She walked calmly, still thinking of what she and Sango had just talked about. When she came into the clearing she was looking for, she peered upward, there was the Goshenboku standing infront of her, its branches swaying slightly in the night breeze. As her eyes continued to wonder up the mighty God Tree, she met two golden orbs staring down at her. She smiled kindly at them, "inuyasha". He stared back at her, `why'd she follow me?' he thought. He stopped thinking as he continued his gaze on the young woman. The moonlight seemed to follow her, and the way it lit her already milky soft skin, she seemed to glow in it. Her hip-length raven hair lifted in the breeze and outlined her figure. He shook his head to stop his gawking.

Kagome didn't notice him looking at her as she walked quietly and sat down on the roots of the tree. She knew she didn't have to say anything. Sure enough a moment later he was sitting next to her. He looked at her as she stared at something overhead, he followed her gaze up to the stars. Each lost in their own thoughts, they sat in silence.

"I love the night sky during this time of the year. The February stars always seem to glisten a little more than usual, don't you think?"

"Feh, I wouldn't notice things like that, only you Kagome. But I will agree that they are amazing, no matter how many times I've seen them, they're soothing."

"yes, they certainly are."

Kagome liked inuyasha when he would confide in her with small things like this. He certainly had matured a lot, she had noticed. Although she thought it was adorable when he would throw in his signature `feh' or `keh', trying to pretend as if he was tough and could care less about anything. She knew otherwise, he had turned into a very caring person, although he hated to show it, he had developed a closer friendship with all of them, valuing them and letting them know they were needed.

"inuyasha…is there something bothering you? You didn't seem yourself back at camp."

Inuyasha didn't answer right away, wondering whether he should tell her. ` come on you jerk! If you really might lose her, you have to tell her how you feel while you still can! Why cant you just look her in the eye and tell her you don't want her to leave?…because…what if she turns me down…what life would I be asking her to leave to stay here with me? What life could I give her here? No, I cant do that to her'

"inuyasha?" "wha?!" , he was abruptly dragged from his thoughts. "you never answered me, is there something wrong?"

"No…nothings wrong, I was just thinking about some things. About what's going to happen with Naraku. Do you think we'll be able to defeat him? What's going to happen to the jewel" `…and you…' he added to himself.

kagome rose her eyes back to the stars…" I would never expect you to have any doubts about whether or not you'll be able to defeat an enemy. We'll be able to do it inuyasha, I have faith in you, in all of us. And the jewel will stay with me until we can decide what to use it for. After that…I don't know." She looked over at him as he stared at the ground, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her and she almost jumped from the look in his eyes, they held so much…she didn't know, confusion, worry, and hopelessness. `does he think we'll lose? What's worrying him so much? He's always been so confident about this, a little over confident most of the time'. A breeze blew over them, causing kagome to shiver slightly. Inuyasha pulled her closer to him and put his arm around her shoulder. He was happy when she relaxed into his touch and settled her head against his chest.

"I know kagome, things will turn out the way they're supposed to. Naraku will die for his treachery, and then we'll all…just continue on." He didn't want to say `move on', since he knew that would be a little too close to the truth. Kagome noticed the weariness in his voice as he finished his sentence. "I know inuyasha, I'm worried about what will happen to all of us after its over too…" his eyes went wide when she said that and his hold on her tightened, and she gripped the cloth of his coat in return. He smiled to himself, `she feels the same way as I do…who knows, maybe things will work out after all.' He lowered his chin to the top of her head and closed his eyes, they stayed like that until she fell asleep in his embrace. He didn't want to go back, he wanted to stay like this forever. So, he gathered her up and jumped onto his branch in the tree, got comfortable and closed his eyes, only allowing himself to fall half asleep so anything dangerous would wake him through his senses. `oyasumu nasai, Kagome' he told her silently…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

kagome awoke to someone shaking her. "kagome? Kagome, I'm hungry" she opened her eyes to see a pleading shippou hovering over her. "shippou? I'm back in the hut?"

"Aa, and I'm hungry. Can you make me breakfast? Sango went to bathe and Miroku's still laying down, he thinks a scratch like that's a good excuse to sleep in."

"alright shippou-Chan, I'll make us food."

She walked outside holding Shippou's hand as they walked to the fire pit with her backpack over her shoulder. She waited as Shippou leaned over and started a small flame in the pit with his foxfire. She sat a pan on the low flame and took some eggs out of her backpack.

By the time Sango got back and Miroku finally got himself out of bed, Kagome had prepared enough food for all of them. She made fried eggs, rice cakes, and had a bottle of orange juice from her time. She also had brought along pickles and other small entrees. "ohh! You made us breakfast? It looks delicious kagome-sama." "Yes kagome-Chan, domo arigato gozaimasu"

"Do itashimashite you guys, dig in!" before she could even finish her sentence they were all shoveling mouthfuls of food. She smiled at shippou, who looked like he had been deprived from food for weeks, and appeared to be in heaven. She loved it when she was able to make everyone happy. `wait, "everyone"…where's inuyasha anyways?' just as the thought made it through her head she heard him running through the trees behind her. She should have known, the smell of food could bring him racing back from miles away.

He landed next to her. "ohayo gozaimasu, inuyasha," she said as she quickly made a plate for him, and then turned and handed it to a very grateful looking hanyou, like a puppy awaiting scraps, she giggled to herself at the thought of inuyasha on his knees, paws infront of him, and tongue hanging out of his mouth looking up with begging eyes.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

after breakfast was over, and everything was cleaned, the group sat in a small circle together. "so what do we do now? Do we wait Naraku to come for us, or do we start to search for him ourselves?"

"I don't know Sango-Chan, it may be impossible to find him, we haven't seen him in a while and we have no leads as to where he is now."

"ahh, but you are mistaken young Lady Kagome."

Everyone turned around to look towards Inuyasha. "Myouga-jiji? Is that you?" as they asked Inuyasha raised a hand and smacked himself on the side of the face, and they watched as the small creature fell to the ground. Once regaining his posture, he jumped onto Kagome's shoulder.

"yes, I have news for all of you."

"do you know where Naraku is Myouga?"

"not exactly Miroku-sama. However, there have been some strange activities in the west. Seems there's been a strange sudden increase in youkai activities."

"keh! That's my brothers problem, what does it have to do with us?"

"well you see, Lord Inuyasha, it may be because Naraku knows that you have found the last of the shards, so is preparing himself to battle you and complete the jewel for himself."

"wait, how does anyone know that we have the last shards? It just happened yesterday?"

"Kagome may dear, you have no idea, demons are even worse gossipers than humans. How do you think I can effortlessly get vital information incessantly?"

"oh…so what are we supposed to do?"

"its obvious, we need to go and face Naraku before he can finish `preparing' himself. We need to attack now."

"yes my Lord. And my guess is that Sesshoumaru-sama isn't all to pleased with the intrusion to his land, so no doubt he can assist you."

"keh! Since when do I need my brothers' help for anything. Since he stopped chasing after tetsusaiga, we haven't even seen him in over a year, who cares about him."

"okay, if we're going to fight, this is our chance."

"right Sango-Chan, but I need to go back to my time and tell my family what I'm doing, just in case something happens." She looked over to inuyasha, and he nodded, turning around to face the woods. "I'll be back in a few hours or so." She walked towards inuyasha and got on his back, "ja mata!"

the group watched as Inuyasha and Kagome rocketed towards the well. "what did she mean, `in case something happens' Houshi-sama? You don't think…"

"she is going back to say a farewell, incase she cannot return to them."

As they approached the well Inuyasha jumped down to the ground and ran the rest of the way, stopping just within feet of the wells edge.

"I'll wait here for you Kagome." Inuyasha said as she slid off his back. "alright inuyasha, I wont be long." And with that she jumped into the well, falling into its black depths. She waited as she felt the familiar surge of power rush over her, and was taken over with the sensation that she was falling through water. She never really liked it all that much, she almost felt like she was drowning, but by now she just didn't think about it. The luminosity that surrounded her slowly vanished as she felt her feet touch down on the solid earth. She looked up to see the wooden well house that accommodated the bone-eaters well. She climbed out of the well, and walked up the small set of steps leading up to the platform infront of the sliding doors. she slowly walked through the doors, closing them behind her.

Kagome made her way to the back door of the house, sliding it open and closed behind her. She didn't see anyone, so she called out, "Tadaima! Mama, Souta, Chan-Chan?!"

"Kagome darling?!"

"nee-Chan's home?"

"Kagome! "

then all three of them came running around the corner, apparently they were in the middle of breakfast still.

"hi everyone. I'm back!"

"kagome, we haven't seen you in two months! I wish your cell phone got reception over there so we could talk to you while your gone."

"sorry grandpa, I'm pretty sure there wasn't any satellites or Nextel for that matter, 500 years ago."

"so honey, what brings you back this time? Are you close to finishing your search for the jewel shards? I know it sounds selfish, but I wish you'd finish it and come back home to us, we miss you all the time."

"mama frets about you the whole time your gone nee-Chan. And I have no one to bug anymore."

Kagome looked at the three faces infront of her. Her mother looked like she was about to cry, Souta was pouting, and grandpa also wore a look of concern on his wrinkled face.

" I'm sorry everyone. I really am, you know I was only staying for so long so I could help to complete this more rapidly, so I could see you all. But, yes, we have found all the rest of the shards of the shikon no tama, and we have a lead on where Naraku is now…that's why I'm here, I came to tell you that I am leaving to battle Naraku, so I wont be back for a while longer."

They all got a stunned look on their faces. They couldn't believe it, the quest was actually coming to an end, it had become a part of their lives, and Kagome would always leave with inuyasha and come back with stories of their adventures. And now, it was had come to the concluding fight already?

Kagome's mother approached her first, embracing her in a mothers hold, "I know you can do it Kagome. We understand, you need to do this, we can wait a little longer for you to come home again." When her mom let her go, she looked up and smiled at her. Her face was no longer worried, but held a look of encouragement, that made Kagome smile back happily.

"arigato mama."

"go get 'em! Tell inuyasha to give him one good punch in the face for us!"

kagome laughed, "alright Souta, don't worry, I will."

She walked over and hugged her younger brother lovingly, "you be good for mama little brother. And take care of yourself."

"alright Kagome, don't worry, I will."

Them she walked over to her grandfather who stood a little hunched with hands behind his back, the same stance Kaede favored. She gave him a tender hug as well, and a kiss on the cheek. "take good care of the shrine Chan-Chan,"

"I will Kagome, you don't have to worry about that." He patted his granddaughter on the back.

She walked back over to her mother giving her one last kiss on the cheek. "and you take good care of these two troublemakers mama." She said indicating her brother and grandpa. Her mom just smiled in reply.

"I love you all, and wish me luck!"

And with that Kagome walked back to the door, turning once she got there to look at her family once more and smiled again. And then she silently walked outside.

"Ki o tsukete!!" yelled Souta to Kagome although out of sight.

"What's wrong mama?" Souta asked when he noticed a silent tear fall from her chin.

"Ka-kagome acts as if she wont be coming home this time…"

Both of them looked at her with a terrified look on their faces. `Nee Chan, no, kagome has to come back. She can do it, I know she can.' Then the family stood in silence watching the door Kagome had left through, silently hoping she would walk back in again…

Kagome got back towards the well house, stopping as she saw Buyo waddled up to her. She walked up to the overweight feline and scratched in between the ears, and after purring it waddled off again. She looked up to the Goshenboku as she walked along. She walked inside the well house and down to the well. `This is it. This is the time, I am going through and we're going to end this. All the pain and suffering we've had to endure for all these years, will end this time.' And with that she jumped into the well that has led her into fates hands before, and this time again…

JAPANESE:

Hentai: pervert

Goshenboku: the God Tree

Oyasumu nasai: good night

Domo arigato gozaimasu: thank you very much

Do itashimashite: your welcome

Ohayo gozaimasu: good morning

Ja mata: later! As in goodbye (literally means: well then…)

Tadaima: I'm home

Ki o tsukete: take care! /be careful!