InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Regrets ❯ Healing Hearts,Mending Souls ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any characters related to him. That honor and privilege belongs to the talented Rumiko Takahashi. I am, however, the master of my own Fate and the keeper of my own Destiny. We should all be so fortunate.

A/N: Okay, people. Here it is. The moment you've all been waiting for. Inuyasha and Kagome come face-to-face for the first time in a year. What will happen? You have to read and find out. Oh, I found the song "Here without you" by Three Doors Down to be very motivational for this chapter. If you haven't heard it, you should be tarred and feathered. No, I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Seriously, though, check it out. It's a good song, by a good band. Anyway, you didn't come here for this, so…On with the show!

Regrets

Chapter Seven-Healing Heart; Mending Souls

It was about six-thirty in the evening, and Mrs. Higurashi was just finishing the dinner dishes. Well, she thought, I should probably go talk to Kagome. It is almost sunset and I know that Inuyasha is waiting for her. The question is how I get her out there without telling her who she's meeting. Kagome's mother sighed; this might be a little difficult. She spied the bags that she had brought in earlier, before her afternoon visitor. Wait a minute. She doesn't know how many bags I had. Maybe if I ask her to go get one that I "left" by the tree… she nodded to herself. Yes, that would work; now to get her daughter out to face her Destiny.

~*~*~*~

"Why couldn't she go get that bag herself?" Kagome muttered to herself. "Doesn't she know that I have studying to do? Stupid bag…couldn't wait till morning." Kagome continued her muttering complaint until she stood before the God Tree. There she stopped and just stared for a moment, blinking hard to hold back tears she didn't want to shed. There had been enough of that lately. This is where it all started. Where I first met Inuyasha… Where I gave my heart away… "Oh, Inuyasha, why did you have to be such a jerk!"

"Because I am the idiot that you always named me, and I couldn't see what was right in front of me," said an achingly familiar voice from behind her. Kagome turned around slowly, not really believing what she thought she was hearing. What she saw made her heart skip and then race. There stood her love, just as she remembered him. Kagome stared, and then she noticed that he looked slightly careworn; as though the past year had been just as hard on him as it had been on her.

"Inuyasha?" she asked her voice and expression uncertain. "Is that really you?" Her heart had started to pound so hard that she was sure he could hear it, even though he stood a good distance from her still.

"Hello, Kagome," he answered thickly, hesitantly. "It's been a long time." Inuyasha approached her slowly, still a little uncertain of his reception. His golden eyes searched her face anxiously, looking for any reaction. As he came within arms-length of her, he got one - and it was a reaction that he was half way expecting.

*SLAP*

For the second time that day, Inuyasha's head was turned by the force of a Higurashi woman's hand. He closed his eyes briefly and then turned back to look at Kagome. She stood before him in the light of the setting sun, slowly lowering her hand back to her side, anger blazing in her eyes. How could he act so…so… casual about this! We haven't spoken in over a year and all he can say is "It's been a long time"! What about "I'm sorry" or "I was wrong"? What about that! Her inner rant was cut short by his next words.

"I deserved that," he said softly. He stood before her with his head bowed, his hair hiding his closed eyes and pained expression "I deserve that and more for what I put you through." He would have said more, but the scent of her tears stopped him. Inuyasha looked up uncertainly, waiting for her to make the next move. As always, her tears were the one thing that could stop him cold, and he didn't know what to do about it.

Kagome closed her eyes and bowed her head, the tears falling unheeded down her face. She couldn't believe that this was the same Inuyasha that she had left behind. Sure, on the outside he looked the same. There was the same red fire-rat suit that covered the same lean frame that had carried and protected her countless times. There was the same silver-white hair that reflected the rays of the dying sun; the same dog ears that had first attracted her and marked him as something special. But then she noticed the differences. Those ears, while they still swiveled and took in every sound around them, didn't stand up as they once had. They drooped slightly, dejectedly.

Then she looked in his eyes; those eyes that she had lost herself in countless times; that golden gaze that held so much of what he was truly feeling, even if he tried to hide it with his rude and arrogant behavior. If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then this was a soul tormented in the depths of Hell. Pain, sorrow, loss; emotions that she had only glimpsed during their travels together, now held dominance in his eyes. Kagome found her anger melting away and her sorrow returning to take its place. The man that was once vibrant and full of life now stood before her a dull shadow of his former self. Inuyasha had the look of a man who has been allowed a glimpse of Heaven and not only been denied entrance, but been forced to watch as others found joy around him.

My God, Inuyasha, what did I put you through? she thought as she reached out and gently cradled his red cheek in her hand, soothing the sting from her slap. It never occurred to her that the same pain was reflected in her own eyes. As always, Kagome's first thoughts were for the one who stood before her. Inuyasha was stunned for a moment. He had seen the emotions run across her face as she stared at him. As he recovered enough from his surprise to reach up and cover the hand resting on his cheek, she spoke. "No, Inuyasha, you don't deserve to be slapped for something you didn't do. If anyone should take the blame for this mess, it's me. I didn't give you a chance…and I'm sorry. I let my own feelings get in the way and never once considered what you were feeling. I…" She was cut off by a clawed finger over her lips.

"No. Kagome, it was the blaming that got us into this mess in the first place. Lets not blow our second chance by repeating past mistakes." Inuyasha looked deep into her eyes as she nodded her agreement.

"Where do we go from here?" she asked softly. "I still don't completely understand what happened that day. And what about," she cringed a little, not really wanting to bring it up, but knowing that they couldn't move on until one of them did, "Kikyo."

Inuyasha sighed. He knew that he would have to tell her what had happened, but he wasn't sure that he was ready for that. So, in typical Inuyasha fashion, he stalled. "What did Fate show you from that day?" He gave an amused little snort at her surprise. "She only told me that her sister was testing you. She wouldn't tell me what they showed you."

Kagome turned away slightly and would have turned away completely if Inuyasha hadn't retained his hold on her hand. Realizing that he probably wouldn't be letting go anytime soon, and she would be damned before she 'sat' him right now, she said, "Can we take a seat somewhere? This might take awhile." He nodded and followed the slight tug she gave to his hand. But then a slightly mischievous glint came to his eye, and before Kagome could react, he had scooped her up and jumped back to the branch where he had spent the afternoon. Settling in the crook where the branch met the tree, Inuyasha arranged them so that his back was against the trunk and Kagome sat in his lap with her legs dangling off the branch and his arms around her waist. At least this way she couldn't run when the Kikyo subject came up. And he could see her face while they talked.

Kagome had given a small "eep" when Inuyasha picked her up and jumped, but when he settled her in his lap, she was torn between being angry again and profound embarrassment at the close contact. That is until he said, "You're not going to fall, Kagome. I would never let anything happen to you." At that point, she settled for embarrassment and blushed. "Besides, we have a lot to talk about and this way we won't be interrupted." Realizing that he had a point, Kagome gave herself up as trapped in a tree, and sat for a moment collecting her thoughts.

"She took me back to the well, to just before I jumped in. She said that you didn't mean what you said, said that it was just reaction. That I had hurt you." She looked at him with tear-filled eyes. "I never meant to hurt you, Inuyasha. I-I guess that I was hurting…and I wanted you to hurt, too." Kagome looked away as the tears fell from her eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I know that doesn't make up for it, but…Please. Forgive me."

The feeling of a callused thumb wiping away her tears made her look up and meet Inuyasha's soft gaze. It hit her then that Fate hadn't lied. This past year had changed him. He never would have shown his concern before, but now, it was written clearly in his eyes. "There is nothing to forgive, Kagome," he said softly, still lightly stroking her cheek. "I told you, I am as much to blame for this. We both made mistakes. Now we have the chance to fix them."

"I never should have abandoned you," she said weakly. "I promised to stay by your side, and I ran away."

"I drove you away," Inuyasha corrected gently. "If I had told you how I felt, you never would have left." He looked off into the distance, dropping his hand and avoiding eye contact. "But I was afraid-afraid to open my heart and have it broken again. I didn't think you felt the same way." He closed his eyes, his expression once again pained. "I mean, how could you? How could you possible have feelings for someone as worthless as me? Especially after everything I put you through." His voice was so low by now that Kagome had to strain to hear him. It was almost as if he were speaking to himself. "How could I ever hope to imagine that you would want me as I am? Not even Kikyo could accept me-what made me think that you would."

If they hadn't been in that damned tree, Kagome would have said the word without any hesitation. As it was though, she said the next best thing. "Idiot." She chuckled at his reaction, which was to jerk his head up and look at her like she'd lost her mind. "When will you ever learn that I love you for who you are in here," she reached out and placed her hand on his chest, over his heart, "not for what you are here," she moved her hand up to gently caress his ear. "It was never about your heritage or even what you look like. The Inuyasha that I fell in love with is a strong-willed, arrogant jerk with a heart of gold." She smiled wryly at him. I wonder how long it'll take for him to realize that I just said that I love him, she thought, averting her eyes. Not that he feels the same way.

Inuyasha sighed as he watched her smile fade. "You know, there is one thing that I realized while you were gone. Do you want to know what it is?"

"What?" she asked her confusion evident. "What did you realize?"

He reached out and turned her head so that he could look her in the eye. "I realized that I love you more than anything in this world. And that my life has little to no meaning if you aren't in it."

"That would be wonderful, Inuyasha, if it were true," Kagome muttered without thinking.

He dropped his hand as if she had stung him. "But it is true," Inuyasha refrained from calling her "bitch", even though it was right on the tip of his tongue. "What can I do to convince you?!" He was staring to feel helpless, a feeling that he liked less than feeling stupid. "Did my leaving so often to find Kikyo really weaken your faith in me so much that you can't believe me?"

"I'm sorry," she said softly. He had hurt her so very much and, as much as her heart screamed at her to accept him, her head was afraid - afraid that he would leave her again. Without knowing Kikyo's fate, she was afraid that he would run back to her the first chance he got. No. As much as she wanted it to be true, as much as she needed it to be true, her heart couldn't take that again.

: Perhaps we can help to put your fears to rest, child. He speaks the truth, but I suspect that seeing what he sacrificed for you will speak louder than simple words: A quick glance at Inuyasha proved that he had heard the voice as well. In the next instant, the world went grey, then green-the green of a forest clearing in the late afternoon. Glancing around, Kagome recognized it as the clearing in front of the God Tree in the feudal era; the place where it all started. How fitting that it would be the scene for her last test.

Kagome looked around a little more, trying to get her bearings. It was obvious that this was another of Fate's visions, but where was Inuyasha? A flicker of movement to her right made her turn and look in that direction. There stood three cloaked and hooded figures. She recognized the one in violet as the Weaver, the entity that had tested her not two days ago. Had Inuyasha seen them, he would have recognized the entity in silver as the Spinner.

The Weaver approached Kagome. "Hello, child," she said gently. "This is your last test. My sisters wished to be here as witness. They wished to observe the end as they have been watching since the beginning."

"Sisters?" Kagome was a little confused.

"Of course, child," fate smiled. "The Spinner," she indicated the being in silver, "and She Who Cuts the Threads," here she pointed to the third figure. This one stood in a cloak of midnight blue, a blue so dark it was almost black. "I think that you would know her better as Death."

"What? Why would Death be here?" Kagome was becoming a little frantic. Did that mean that someone was going to die? And where the hell was Inuyasha?

"Be at ease, Kagome. She is not here for you or you're beloved. Now," she said sternly, "watch, and perhaps, your fears will finally be laid to rest."

Kagome turned her attention to the tree, and stiffened. There stood Inuyasha…and Kikyo. Knowing that this was important, she forced herself to watch and listen. Her heart in her throat and uncertainty in her very soul, she watched as Kikyo approached. Inuyasha stood against the God Tree, his arms folded across his chest and a pensive expression on his face.

"It is time to go to Hell, Inuyasha. You have defeated Naraku and completed the Jewel. Now fulfill your last promise and come with me," Kikyo said her eyes hard and her expression stern.

Inuyasha stood and stared at her for a few moments. It was almost as if he were trying to understand something, a concept that was just out of reach. And then, as though a light had been lit in the darkness, his face hardened with a resolve that Kikyo had never seen before. "No. My responsibility ends here. It's time that you listened to what I have to say." Inuyasha's tone was brusque, harsh. It was obvious to all that he was not going to be swayed from whatever decision he had made.

"I am sorry, Kikyo. Sorry that you were brought back through my careless action. Sorry that I caused you so much pain," he said pain evident in his voice. "It took me a long time to come to terms with your death. Waking up to a world without you in it was painful, and for a while I thought the grief and pain would tear me apart. But, then you came back. And I naïvely thought that we were being given a second chance. It wasn't until recently that I realized that I had my second chance…and I let her slip away."

"That girl," Kikyo hissed. "You would betray me for that worthless girl!"

"Don't you ever speak of her that way!" Inuyasha roared. "She was never worthless or weak." His anger faded and his face softened, "She is everything that you were and then some. She was everything that you had hoped to be." Inuyasha looked at Kikyo, but it was as though his eyes looked through her. "I love her and I will do whatever it takes to find her again."

"I see," Kikyo's voice was harsh and she watched him, her face thoughtful. "Does she make you happy?"

"More than anything in this world," he answered hoarsely, a little unsure of where this was going.

"Then I can rest peacefully." She smiled weakly. Kikyo had finally accepted her Fate. "Do what you have to do, Inuyasha."

Kagome watched in awe as Inuyasha reached out and pulled Kikyo close. She would have turned away had Fate not placed a hand on her shoulder, forcing her to watch the scene play out. Kagome gasp when Inuyasha reached into Kikyo's chest and pulled something out, crushing it in his hand. He stood and watched as her body turned to dust before him, a tear or two sliding down his cheek. Then something strange happened.

As Kikyo's body collapsed, all of the soul that had been inside her ascended…save one. This soul hovered between Kagome and Inuyasha; it's misty form pulsing gently. It floated to Inuyasha, enveloping him in a soft white light and Kikyo's voice said, "I forgive you." The light caressed him gently before it shot toward Kagome, hitting her in the chest. Kagome welcomed back the long missing piece of her soul. Closing her eyes, she felt Kikyo's presence just before she heard her voice.

"I understand now why he loves you. Even though we share the same soul, we do not share the same spirit. Yours is as wild as his, and I think that you will be a better match than I ever could. As much as I wanted to, I was never able to accept the demon that is so much a part of him. But you could and you have. Accept him now, little sister in soul. Let him love you and you will find the happiness that I was denied. Farewell, sister, farewell." With that, Kikyo's presence left her.

Kagome opened her eyes and was greeted by gold. She blushed to find Inuyasha's face so close to her own, and she stepped back a little. It was then that they realized that they had returned to the modern era and were once again standing under the God Tree.

Inuyasha was a little hurt when she stepped away from him, but then he had probably startled her being that close. "Are you okay, Kagome?" he asked, concerned.

She nodded, reaching up and pushing a stray strand of hair out of his eyes. "I understand now, Inuyasha. And I believe you. I love you. I don't ever want to be separated from you again."

Nothing could have rivaled the light that shone from him then; not the sun or the moon or the stars. With a loud whoop of joy, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and spun her around until they were both too dizzy to stand. Clinging to each other until the world quit spinning, they both laughed with breathless abandon. At least until a thought occurred to Kagome that sobered her.

"Inuyasha," she said in a small voice. She really didn't want to burst the bubble that they were in, but it had to happen sometime. When she was sure that she had his attention, she continued, "What about when I get old?"

"Wh-what?" It hit him then that she was right. She would grow old and die, and he would continue to live…and not age. He almost panicked, until a memory from his childhood came to mind. It was a story that his mother had told him, about a human woman and a demon man and a ritual that bound them together. Myoga had mentioned it before as well. He would have to get the flea to give him the details later, but the important thing was that the human's life was extended. "I think that I know a way around that, Kagome. And we don't even need the Jewel to do it."

He grinned at the befuddled expression she wore. She was so cute when she was confused! Unable to hold back any longer, Inuyasha leaned over and did something he had been longing to do for years. He kissed her.

It wasn't a long kiss and it wasn't the passionate, tongue battling one that she half way expected. No, this kiss was a little clumsy and very chaste, but it was one that was given out of love. That it was her first and it was from the man she loved made it the best kiss she could ever have hoped for or imagined. It ended as abruptly as it had begun and afterwards Inuyasha wrapped her in a tight embrace. Kagome was content to stay right there forever; she had never felt safer or more cherished then she did at this moment.

Inuyasha sighed. As content as he was to stay just like this forever, there were a few things they still needed to discuss. Gathering Kagome up, he leaped back to their previous position in the tree. We need to figure out where we go from here. Do I stay here or will she come home with me? Will the well work after we go back through? Will she agree to be my mate?

: May I make a few suggestions?: The voice of the Weaver echoed in both their minds. Unknown to Inuyasha, Kagome had been having similar thoughts and Fate had decided to intervene one last time. : I would let Kagome finish school, Inuyasha. The well will remain open for as long as you need it, I will see to that. The education that she is receiving may come in handy in the future. It will also allow you two some time to get to know each other again.: There was the impression of a chuckle at the shock the two felt. : It will also allow you time to research the thought you had earlier, Inuyasha. You will need time to prepare that spell and I'm sure that Kagome would like to plan a wedding.: The chuckling sensation again as Kagome blushed and Inuyasha looked thoughtful.

: You have a bright future before you. Have faith in each other and it will always work out. Fare you well, children.: The voice left as it had come and left the two to think on what she had said.

"Well," Kagome said, breaking the silence that was stretching between them.

"Well, what?" Inuyasha asked. "I still don't understand this school thing, but it's obviously important to you. Besides, you do need some time to plan the wedding."

"Wait a minute," Kagome said in mock anger. "Who said anything about a wedding? And how do you know about that, anyway?"

"Well…I…What I meant was…" he stuttered, until he saw the twinkle in her eye. Playing along he said, "Your mom and I had a talk before you came home and she explained it to me." His eyes widened in feigned surprise. "I can't believe that I forgot the most important part."

Jumping down, he placed a very confused Kagome on her feet in front of him. Taking both of her hands in his, he stared deep into her eyes. It was almost as if he were trying to see straight into her soul. He evidently found what he was looking for, because he took a deep breath and then said, "Kagome, will you stay with me forever as my wife and mate? If you will have me, I will do all that I can to ensure that you are safe and happy for as long as we both live." Closing his eyes for a second, he took another breath and asked softly, "Will you have me?"

Kagome was stunned. She hadn't expected this and it left her speechless- for about three seconds. With a delighted squeal, she threw herself into Inuyasha's arms and almost strangled him, knocking them both to the ground in the process.

"Should I take that as a 'yes'," he asked with a chuckle.

"Silly puppy, as if I would have any other," she said. Then she bestowed upon him the kiss that she had wanted a few minutes ago. It was deep and passionate and took his breath completely away. Inuyasha decided right then that he would never get tired of Kagome's kisses, and returned the favor in kind. When they finally pulled apart, both were slightly out of breath and they wore identical expressions of joy.

"You know, there is one more trial we have to face tonight," Kagome said seriously.

"Oh, what's that?" Inuyasha asked, not sure that he really wanted to hear the answer.

"Telling my grandfather that there's going to be a demon in the family," she replied impishly. "You know, he may try to banish you."

Inuyasha looked at her in mock horror. "Oh, no, anything but that." Then he laughed. "You do know that his charms don't work, right? I mean, Souta's got more power than he does."

"I know that and you know that, but Grandpa doesn't know that," Kagome laughed at the irritated expression on Inuyasha's face. Grandpa was harmless and, in time, would give up on trying to get rid of Inuyasha, but it was a funny sight to see Inuyasha covered in spell scrolls.

"Come on," he said, standing up. He offered his hand to help Kagome up and held on to it as they headed toward the house. "I think that your family here should be the first to know about us. We can tell the others in the morning. Besides," he looked at her from the corner of his eye, "it's getting late and I don't wanna hear ya bitchin' about how tired you are."

"You jerk," she screamed. "And just when I thought you had grown up…" she trailed off, catching the gleam in his eye. He was teasing her! Oh, boy was he in for it now. Realizing that his baiting had worked, self-preservation kicked in and Inuyasha started running, laughing all the way.

"You just wait till I catch you, Dog Boy," Kagome laughed. "You'll regret that! Now get back here!"

And so taunting, laughing and chasing each other like children, Kagome and Inuyasha went to break the news to her family; meeting their Destiny with the joy they thought was lost forever; their hearts healed and souls mended. Forever one, forever whole.

A/N: Wow, how was that for an ending. But wait, there's more. There will be an epilogue, although it may not be up for a bit, seeing as it hasn't been written yet. And I warn you now. There will be some adult content in the last chapter. Nothing worse than what you would see in an R rated movie, but some of you may be offended. The story could easily end here, so, for those who are bothered by that kind of thing, this would be the end. It's been real. Last chapter should be up before too long. Until we meet again,

Patch

Oh, I started a Christmas fic. I hope to have it out in time for Christmas. It's my attempted at an A/U, so keep an eye out for it. I promise it won't make you cry-at least I don't think it will. Anyway, happy reading- Cat