InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remember Me in the Stars ❯ Memory ( Chapter 28 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Memories

She opened her eyes, the soft trembling of the train had stopped. She pushed aside her

curtains and found that it was dark outside. Only the small glow of a lamp gave any clue to

where she was, Mito train station. She looked at the watch on her hand, it was a little after 1

a.m. She got up and took her suitcases down from the shelf above. There were few passengers

in the train and the aisle was empty except for one or two passengers here and there. When

she stepped out into the chilly night air she breathed deeply. It smelled of home. To any

other person it would have smelled the same as any place, but to someone who had lived

there their whole life, it's scent was unforgettable. A mixture of purity and nature combined.

She shivered slightly from the cold but marched on to find a motel to sleep in. Her feet took

her to familiar sidewalks and streets till she stopped in front of an old hotel. Not old in the

sense of broken down, but old in it's building's architecture. A sleepy clerk gave her a key to

her room and pointed to the direction it was. The room was small, but neat and tidy. There

was a futon and some blankets and pillows. She set her suitcases down and opened them up to

find her nightclothes. After setting up her bed she flicked off the lights and tried to sleep.

Despite tired eyes she couldn't bring herself to sleep. The feeling of leaving something behind

still there. She had left her present in order to go back to the past. And soon she was to walk

on towards her future. But the tugging feeling of not completing something still stayed till her

eyes were too exhausted to stay open.

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His chin was propped up on his hand as he stared out the window. Darkness had already fallen

and nothing but his reflection welcomed his eyes. He had almost gotten off the train several

times, but each time he sat back down. Was he going to her to apologize? Or perhaps ask her

the meaning of his father's promise? Why was he going at all? He tried to make excuses to see

her, pitiful ones that he hoped his mind would receive. But something inside kept pushing

back each pathetic excuse. He wanted to deny that he was going just to see her. But every

time he mustered defiance against going, an image of her sorrowful eyes took over his mind.

He glanced at his watch, it was nearly 1 a.m. He asked a passing conductor what time the train

would arrive at Mito. The conductor replied that it would be near dawn by the time they

would pull into the station. Four more hours, it almost felt short. The one thing that racked

his mind the most was what would he say to her?

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Kagome woke up, the room was still dark but a little lighter. She rolled over and grabbed

around for her watch. It was nearly five. She rolled back to her position and tried to sleep

again but her eyes didn't feel sleepy. *Might as well get up. The shrine usually looks beautiful

at sunrise anyway* She got up, stretched, and started to get ready for a new day. The clerk

was sleeping so Kagome left a note that she would be back later on. There were few people out

this early in the morning so Kagome didn't come across any old friends. Her breath came out

in little whisps in the chilly morning air but her walk was brisk. Soon the stone steps to the

shrine came in view. She gazed at them for a few seconds, memories flooding her mind. She

climbed the steps slowly, taking her time and savoring it. Her shrine came in view and was

still the same place as she had remembered. It looked a bit weathered but it still remained her

home. Violet rays cast light shadows across the courtyard which danced about. Sunrise was

coming soon, judging from how bright the morning was becoming. She scanned her eyes and

it caught onto the sacred tree, one that had been around for over five hundred years. Kagome

always remembered feeling strength radiating from such a noble tree. It was her place to stay

whenever she felt unhappy or sad. She walked up to it and fondly touched the old tree. She

heard movement behind her and she whirled around to see......Sesshoumaru? His body stood

right in front of the sunrise so that it's glow radiated from his body, creating an almost angelic

look. She was still silent from surprise and he was silent from unknowing. She broke the

silence first in a wavering voice.

"Why are you here?" she whispered.

"I was hoping you could tell me." he said in an equally quiet voice.

He moved closer so that the sun's rays no longer glowed around his body.

"I thought I would know if I came to you."

"How can I know the reason to why you are here?"

He paused for so long that Kagome turned back to her tree. She touched it gently, trying to

draw from it's strength.

"I think.... I came here to apologize."

"You think? Or have you come to show more disdain towards me?"

"I'm sorry."

Kagome's hand curled into a light fist, she could hear the sincerety in his words.

"I thought I told you we would never see each other again. I do not think you merely came all

the way to Mito just to apologize. What is the real reason behind your unexpected visit?"

He paused again.

"Why do you keep on pausing? Do you have to think very hard to answer back to a servant?"

Her voice edged towards a sad anger.

"No, it's just that....I don't know what to say."

"Why are you here? Just tell me."

Her voice sounded tired and strained and Sesshoumaru wondered if coming here was a good

idea. But something inside urged him on.

"Before....before my father died, he made me promise two things. One of them was to find a

fiancee who is my equal. Only in the last few hours have I really questioned the meaning

behind his words."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"Are you my equal?"

His question surprised her.

"Are you my equal?" he asked again.

"What if I said no?"

"Then, my journey here was for nothing."

"And if it was yes?"

"I'm not sure."

She turned around and walked towards him till they were only inches apart. She turned her

head up to look at him straight in the eyes. His eyes were uncertain and a fear coursed

through them. She had never seen him so unsure of himself. She stared at him for a few

seconds, trying to think of an answer. She finally found one.

"I was always your equal."

A hesitant hand rose to her cheek and it was the same scene from the dance. This time

nothing stopped them.

*one more chapter and then.....the end!!! Keep reviewing!!!!!