InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remember Me in the Stars ❯ Atonement ( Chapter 20 )

Atonement

Souta glanced up at the sun, shading his eyes. It was about springtime and the weather was

beautiful. But he couldn't enjoy it fully, knowing he and his sister were far apart. His uncle,

noticing his troubled look, put his arm around the boy who had become much like a son and

asked if he was alright. Souta gave a reassuring smile and replied that he was fine. His uncle in

many ways was the father he never had. He almost felt tempted to call him father, to savor

the feeling of being accepted. *Sister, I miss you. Life here isn't enough without you* Souta

turned his head away, he could only imagine how she was right now. He had received letters

but every time he read them, he felt as if Kagome was leaving something important out. He

clenched his fists, why couldn't his aunt have taken them both in? He had no complaints in

living with his uncle and his cousins. But.....to be with his sister, life could be almost

complete. He had seen the harsh, calculating look his aunt had worn that day. But Kagome

gave no protests in her letters on living with such a cold person. Sighing, he took his baby

cousin's hand and walked with the rest of his family. Wishing to meet again wouldn't help. But

hope; maybe hoping to see his sister might sustain him.

Kagome eyes fluttered and noticed the room was dark. Panicked, she sat up and look around.

Someone was sleeping in a chair next to the bed. She saw glints of silver hair in the darkness.

*Sesshoumaru?* The figure stirred and woke up. He got up and turned on the light, blinding

Kagome for a moment. When her eyes adjusted to the light she saw that is was not

Sesshoumaru but Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing here?"

"I heard you were sick, so, I, uh, just came to check up on you."

"Where's your brother?"

"He left after I came."

"Oh."

There was an awkward silence between the two.

"Kagome, I never meant to hurt you."

"You didn't make me sick Inuyasha"

"I meant with Kikyo."

"People don't mean to do a lot of things. The only thing is that they realize it after they've

done it."

"I'm sorry."

Kagome stared into his eyes and could see the sincerity in his words.

"I know, and I understand. You don't have to apologize."

"How can you still be nice to a jerk like me? After what I've done, god, I still feel terrible. You

should be angry, and you have every right to be!"

"I'm not angry. At first, I was hurt, then angry, and then, just sad. I've given up on anger a

long time ago."

"Why?"

"To understand everything.....is to forgive everything."

"You understand?"

"You loved Kikyo before me, and love does not die easily. Sometimes a person has to lose in

order to make another happy."

"I loved you too."

"I know. But you will always remember your first love."

"I've given up on Kikyo. I finally saw the person she really is. Cold-hearted, emotionless, and

cruel. But she wasn't always like that, she was warmer before."

He gave a deep sigh and sat down in the chair.

"People change."

"But why is it always for the worse?"

"I'm not sure, but things happen that can cause changes."

"Either way, I know I don't love Kikyo anymore. I love the ghost of the person she was year

ago, not who she is now."

"Are we friends?" he asked.

"Aren't we?"

"I don't know."

"I already told you a while ago that we were."

Inuyasha's face looked relieved.

"So we are friends. No matter what happens, I still want us to be friends."

Kagome smiled but then faltered.

"What time is it?"

"It's around dinner time. Are you hungry?"

"Oh no!"

Kagome struggled to get up but Inuyasha pushed her back onto the bed.

"What are you doing? You're still sick!"

"My aunt, I didn't tell her where I am. She is going to be so an-anxious to know where I am."

"Don't worry, Sesshoumaru already called her and told her where you were."

"She...she isn't angry?"

"No, why would she be? She said that you were to remain at the hospital till you were better."

"Oh"

Kagome laid back against her pillows.

"Do you want something to eat?"

"I'm not really hungry."

"You should eat though, you will need the energy. Hospital food is always terrible, I'll go out

and get you something. Anything you prefer?"

Kagome smiled.

"I guess it doesn't really matter. Just something light, I don't have much of an appetite."

"I'll be back in around 15 minutes. And Kagome?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For forgiving.