InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Persistence ❯ Chapter 16 ( Chapter 16 )

Thank you for all your reviews. Half of the ideas in this fic come from YOU, the readers!

 

The idea for the people getting tattoos… The first guy came from when I got my 2nd tattoo - he was in there getting something tattooed across his shoulders in black old English text. Hell if I remember what it said but I remember it ran across his shoulders. The woman reminded me of a friend who got a very beautiful large back piece done of a geisha, samurai, and their child.

 

I also had a lot of questions about the shirt Sesshomaru was wearing. If the link didn't work, the shirt said “Warning When you say “BITE ME” I consider that FOREPLAY”. Cheeky, huh? If you guys EVER have questions about something with the fic, send me a pm on here or checkout my fic writing blog at gradualwisd0m(dot)blogspot(dot)com

 

Chapter 16

 

 

As she sat on the grass under the shade of Goshinboku, Kagome flipped open the flaps of the box. Inside there were several pages bound together with leather straps. The pages were marked with thick black ink and they crinkled in protest at even the most gentle of handling. Tenderly picking it up and lifting it from the box, Kagome turned the bundle over in her hands, reading the writing on the page that was on the top.

 

 

`Yuui taught me how to write my name today'.

 

 

Kagome kept reading, squinting at Rin's poor penmanship and improper sentence structure. I guess it's a start; girls weren't exactly expected to be educated. I wonder if Sesshomaru knew about this. She flipped a few pages and began reading again.

 

 

`Lord Sesshomaru let the monk Miroku-san teach me to write. Sesshomaru-sama says that it is important for me to know how to read and write. It is very hard but I want to please Lord Sesshomaru'.

 

 

“Kagome!” She looked up to see her mother standing beside the house. Sesshomaru was standing next to her, still wearing that obnoxious shirt. Kagome's eyes flicked back and forth between the two for a few seconds while her hands moved the flaps of the box closed, hiding its contents. Sesshomaru looked so imposing, standing almost a whole foot taller than her mother.

 

“Yes?” she asked.

 

“Your friend is here,” her mother said before smiling and turning around to walk away. He walked toward her, his gait casual and less rigid than in the past. Her eyes stayed on him as he walked up to her. He stuck his hand into his pocket and when he withdrew it he was holding her cell phone out to her. She stared blankly at it before it clicked whose it was. That's mine.

 

“You forgot it in the break room,” he explained.

 

“Oh. Thank you,” she replied, taking it from his outstretched hand. Their fingers brushed as he handed it to her.

 

“I had called your phone because I forgot to extend an invitation to Suteki's birthday party on June 1st. He was adamant that you be invited.” She smiled at the thought of the young child's sudden affinity for her.

 

“Sure, I'll be there. What time?”

 

“It'll be a small family gathering starting at 1pm on the 1st. He will be happy to hear you'll be there,” he said with a small smile. She grinned back.

 

“How about we don't tell him and I'll just show up?” she said, a mischievous look on her face. He nodded and turned to leave.

 

“Bye,” she called out to his retreating back, slightly confused that he did not loiter a bit longer. He raised his left arm at the elbow as if to wave goodbye to her. She watched him disappear around the side of the house and released a gentle breath. I'm surprised he could step foot on the shrine grounds. Oh well, he is a powerful demon.

 

Opening the box again, she gingerly pulled out the parchments and set them on her lap. She gently flipped through a few pages and studied the way the handwriting improved, how the paragraphs lengthened, and how the language usage changed. She began at what looked like the beginning. It seemed like Rin started her journal about two seasons before the final battle. She wrote about how she traveled with Lord Sesshomaru and that she loved him like a father. She talked about how annoying Jaken was even though she also acknowledged his undying admiration for Sesshomaru. She also wrote about how much she enjoyed spending time with Shippo and that she was grateful to be in Kagome's presence at times. Kagome smiled at the young girl's kind words toward her. She, too, had enjoyed spending time with Rin. She was always such a positive young girl who loved flowers. She never did understand why she followed Sesshomaru who always seemed like such a cold, hardened demon.

 

 

-Journal-

 

 

Kagome-san has been gone for a month. I miss her a lot. Shippo still cries sometimes because she is gone. Lord Sesshomaru has let me stay with him and the Taijiya and Monk so that I can continue to learn. The Monk teaches me to read and write and the Taijiya teaches me to “be a lady”. Lord Sesshomaru said I need to learn to behave like a girl instead of an animal. He comes by on his rounds to see how I am doing. He has been coming more often the longer I am here. I think he is lonely. When we were traveling together, he would sleep on occasion and he would sometimes mumble Kagome's name in his sleep. Jaken would scowl and grumble but it always made me smile. I think he misses Kagome-san. She was a good friend. She always stood up to Lord Sesshomaru and kept Inuyasha from yelling so much.

 

 

--Several pages later--

 

 

I found Lord Sesshomaru in his garden today when I came by to visit him. As usual he was standing on the arched bridge over the Koi pond, his typical spot to ruminate about her. It hurts my heart to see him like this. I needed to ask him about her - I had to know. Ever since Kagome left, he has not been the same. I asked him if he misses her. He said he does. I told him that I miss her too. When I asked him if he loved her, he said that he did and that he still does! I was so happy to hear him say it! He didn't even hesitate and his voice wasn't cold like it usually is! He said that he will see her again someday. I know that demons live for a long time so I hope that someday Lord Sesshomaru is able to find her again and tell her how much he loves her. I want to see him happy finally. I know I won't be alive then, which makes me sad, but knowing he will find her again makes my heart hopeful.

 

 

Kagome stared at the page she had just read. He loves me? He's ALWAYS loved me? She slumped, her shoulders hunched over. “I… I never thought. Sesshomaru? He loves me?” She immediately thought of how he protected and saved her during their battle with Naraku. He saved me seemingly without a second thought. And after word when I was thinking about what to do with the jewel… he came and he told me demons live for a long time. Was that his way of promising he'd find me again? Why couldn't he just tell me?

 

 

--Several pages later—

 

Akiko has been suffering from chills and an extremely high fever. I told him not to go into the thickets along the cliffs but, being stubborn, he didn't listen to me. Now here I sit, watching my beloved husband struggle to stay conscious through fits of cold sweats caused by a snake's poison. I have been at his side for the last 8 hours and I fear he will not overcome this illness. I could tell when Lord Sesshomaru stopped in our room to check on us - the look in his eyes told me that he knew Akiko didn't have much time left. Sure, I could have begged him to use Tenseiga but that's not how things are supposed to be. Akiko and I have lived a long, rich life together. I've been sitting next to him, whispering stories about our children and of the special times we shared together. I told him some of the stories he used to like to hear about my travels with Lord Sesshomaru when I was younger.

 

 

--2 paragraphs later—

 

 

Akiko passed away early this morning before the sun rose. I pray that his soul reaches the heavens and that it finds peace until I am able to join him. Our children will arrive during the day today and tomorrow and we will prepare his funeral commemoration. I will miss my beloved husband dearly but I know I will see him again and that warms my heart. I now understand the loneliness that Lord Sesshomaru felt when Kagome left.

 

 

Gently settling Rin's journal back into the box, Kagome wiped the tears from her eyes, laid back on the grass and propped her head on her arms. She stared up at the branches of Goshinboku, thinking about everything. After reading all of that, what would it be like being with him and having his children? He'd proven that he would be an adequate father by taking Rin under his wing and caring for her. For a short time Kohaku was in his care as well. He opened his home to Rin and her husband and showed genuine concern for them. When she had been at the castle, he had been gentle and loving with Suteki.

 

“I'm so young. I don't know if I'm even ready for this. I've hardly even dated,” she said to herself, sighing. The branches of Goshinboku creaked in the gentle breeze, as if to agree with her. And what about mom? Souta? Grandpa? What will my family think? Or my friends? They've never met him. Heck, they don't even know about him except for Eri and she only knows him as the hot guy at the tattoo shop! Kagome wasn't sure if she should seek her mother's advice on this. Sure, she had been understanding when they talked about whether she'd stay in the feudal era or if she'd come back. But would her mother understand her predicament? “No harm in asking I guess” she said out loud before sitting up and collecting the box. She stood and walked to the house.

 

“Mama?” she asked, slipping her shoes off and sliding the door shut behind her.

 

“I'm in the kitchen, dear,” her mother's voice said around the corner. Kagome stepped into the kitchen and saw her mother sitting at the table, sipping a gently steaming cup of tea.

 

“Hi mom,” she said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. She set the box gently beside her on the table. “I need to talk to you about something.”

 

“Boy issues?” her mother asked, not even trying to hide the smirk that danced across her lips.

 

“Uh, yeah. You know the friend that you met today? The really tall guy?” Kagome started, fidgeting her fingers against one another.

 

“Mmm hmmm. What was his name, dear?” her mother asked, pouring Kagome a cup of tea.

 

“Thanks. Well, his name is Sesshomaru and he's Inuyasha's older half-brother,” she explained, wrapping her fingers around the steaming cup.

 

“oh? I think I remember you telling me about him once. He's the demon that tried to kill you and Inuyasha a few times, correct?”

 

“Yeah, that's the guy. But he's not like that anymore. He's.. more tame.” Kagome proceeded to explain to her mother how she met Sesshomaru again almost 2 months ago at his tattoo shop (and assured her mother she did NOT get a tattoo). She also told her mother about seeing Inuyasha and Shippo again and what happened at the vernal equinox celebration regarding the Writ of Taishou. Her mother listened intently unlike her friends who would have interrupted with questions and side comments.

 

“And this is where I am now, Mama. He's looking for a mate and all signs are pointing at me. What do I do?”

 

“Marriage is not something you take lightly, Kagome. I want you to seriously think about all of this and make a well thought out decision. I know you'll do the right thing,” her mother replied, reaching forward and patting Kagome's hand. Kagome sighed and smiled weakly at her mother. She always knows what to say.

 

“Thanks mom. I'm pretty tired. I think I'll go have a bath and go to bed.”

 

“Okay dear, goodnight,” her mother said, gathering the dirty dishes. She sighed after Kagome left the room then smiled. Depending on her answer, and if I know my daughter like I think I do, we're in for some surprises.

 

--000--

 

Kagome's mind swam with the words her mother said and also the words of the man at the tattoo shop while she relaxed in the hot water. `Do yourself a favor and make sure you really truly love the one you decide to be with forever and that they love you back just as much.' Did she love Sesshomaru? It was pretty obvious to her now that he loved her completely. Is it possible to fall in love with someone in 2 months time? Would being with him pretty much throw away the rest of her life?

 

“How much do I really know about him?” she mumbled to herself, resting her chin on her knees. What does he like, dislike, what kind of a person is he? “It's like I need reference letters just to know him now…” She sat up, sloshing a little of the water out of the tub. “That's it! I need to do some research! I'm never going to figure out Sesshomaru or this whole mating business if I don't start asking questions.” She happily finished her bath then put her pajamas on. Collapsing onto her bed, she smiled with satisfaction. She finally had a plan.

 

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