InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remnants of the Spider ❯ A Final Farewel ( Chapter 19 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lady Sianna 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 10.19.2009 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 284 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 10.19.2009 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 284 | Status: Work In Progress
Remnants of the Spider
A Final Farwell
A/N: Mandybean, one of my lovely readers brought something to my attention and I just wanted to take a moment to address it. It was about Masuyo’s shrine. The shrine is not a real physical place, but more of a gateway. It is a passage that leads to a sort of alternate realm for the mikos who pass through it. It will take Kaede to a reality created by her own memories and desires and give her the life she would have wanted had she not spent hers in service to others. I only hinted at this, but did not explain it fully.
I hope this makes sense.
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It had taken a great deal of strength not to break down and cry. This was it. This was really it. For Kaede to have said that it was time to tell the others, meant that her time in this world was truly drawing to its end. She had really wanted to cry. She had wanted to curl into herself and cry like a baby, but somehow… she managed not to do so.
‘I told you to stop that.’
The words had been Sesshoumaru’s. He had been chiding her for wallowing in her own self pity, but this wasn’t the same thing. Still, somehow the words managed to take away the sting of tears from her eyes. And so, she didn’t cry. She needed to be strong right now anyway. Besides, there would be plenty of time for crying later.
Awake now, Rin was seated next to her. Gently rocking back and forth, Kagome stroked the girl’s hair lightly. The two females sat together in silence; each holding the other in a sidelong embrace. It had been before dawn when Kaede had spoken to her, and now it was early morning. After their brief discussion, Kagome had awakened the children and as delicately as possible, explained to them what was going on. Rin had barely managed to hold back her tears, and Shippou, thankfully put on a brave front for them both. Kagome had then instructed him to go to the others and tell them to come to the village. He was to go to Sango and Miroku’s first, since they were the furthest away. Afterwards he was to go to Kikyou’s village. That way, they would hopefully arrive around the same time.
The kit was not to disclose any specific details. He was only to tell them that it was extremely important, and that they needed to come right away. His strength and power had increased a great deal over the years, not to mention the control he had gained through the lessons he had begun taking. Because of that, he could travel quickly from one village to the other in the form of a large eagle.
She was sure he had only been gone for about an hour, but it seemed like an eternity. For a long while, the silence in the small hut had been deafening, but within the last few minutes, it had started to rain. The light tapping of cool wet droplets against the thatched roof, normally a comforting sound did little to lighten their moods.
Neither female dared to say a word. They simply stared in silence at the slumbering form of Kaede. Soon after she had spoken with Kagome she had again fallen asleep. It was so hard to see her like this. She had always been so strong, so firm and sure in everything she did, and now her life was fading away before their eyes.
Kagome blinked slowly and took a deep breath. Her friends would be here soon, and she would have to break the news to them. She tightened her hold on Rin for a short moment before releasing her. Then slowly, reverently, she reached for Kaede’s hand. Wrapping her fingers around it, she placed the limp appendage in her lap. ‘Still warm.’ she thought absently in a vain attempt to seek comfort.
‘How can I do this?’ she wondered as she began to caress the heavily creased, age spotted hand of the elder miko. ‘They’ll know I kept this from them. Will they be angry with me for it? How can I make them understand? I wanted to tell them, but I couldn’t betray you! I promised I wouldn’t and I understand why you asked me not to but… this is just so hard!!! How can I do this??!!’ Gritting her teeth against the impending tears, she tightened her grip on her mentor’s hand. In spite of her weakened appearance, she knew Kaede’s inner strength still thrummed beneath her weary surface. ‘Please Kaede,’ she begged as she looked down on her, ‘please let me borrow your strength.’
Then, the elder miko’s hand flexed just a little bit, and Kagome could hear Kaede’s voice inside her mind. ‘The strength ye require is already within ye. Ye need only to utilize it. I have great faith in ye, child.’
A small smile formed on her lips then. The words sounded so much like what Kaede really would have said that she could almost pretend she had.
“Okay.” she said out loud as she leaned forward and placed a light kiss on the old miko’s brow. “I’ll do my best. I promise.” Just then, a light tingling against her skin told her that a demon was approaching.
Kirara.
“They’re here.” she said more to herself than anyone else. Rin just nodded and looked at her, her eyes wide and expectant. “I want you to stay here and watch over Kaede.” The young miko told her. “If she wakes up or… or stops breathing, come get me right away.”
“Yes, Lady Kagome.” the girl answered, her voice quavering slightly.
Before she could move to stand, Kagome caught sight of the girl’s trembling lower lip. Turning back to her, she placed a hand on each of her shoulders to gain her full attention. “Remember what I told you, Rin. I know you’re hurting right now, but I need you to be strong, okay?”
Nodding, she echoed Kagome’s earlier words, “I’ll do my best.”
Kagome smiled sadly. “That’s all I can ask.” She wanted to pull the girl into her arms and promise her that everything was going to be okay, but she couldn’t do that. She couldn’t lie to her like that, and she knew that embracing her would only make them both cry. So, before she could second guess herself, she turned away and quickly rose to her feet. She went to the corner near the door and dug out her old umbrella. “Ill be back soon.” she told Rin without turning around, and with that, she went out into the rain.
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“I wonder what this is all about.” Sango said worriedly as Inuyasha’s forest came into view.
“I don’t know, but I don’t have a good feeling about it. Shippou seemed pretty upset, and the fact that he wouldn’t tell us what was happening makes me that much more concerned.” Miroku answered quietly.
“Well, I just hope Kohaku gets our message. I wonder if he should have come as well.” said Sango. She was trying, with only minimal success, to fight off the sense of foreboding by changing the subject slightly.
If only Shippou had come a day earlier, Kohaku could have been able to come with them. She worried about her brother sometimes. He was still a bit standoffish at times, and had refused all offers to remain in the village with she and Miroku. The damage inflicted by Naraku was more than just skin deep apparently. She could only hope that he found happiness, and remained safe.
“Look!” Miroku exclaimed, mild excitement heightening his voice. “It’s Kagome!”
Her train of thought having come to an abrupt end, Sango focused her attention on the ground below. Sure enough, the distinct form of Kagome’s umbrella stood a short distance from Kaede’s hut. Why was she standing outside in the rain? Granted it wasn’t a heavy downpour, but still…
Soon, Kirara touched down and she and Miroku dismounted. “Kagome!” Sango cried as she ran across the slick wet grass to meet her friend. When the young miko made no move to approach her, the huntress knew without a doubt that something was wrong. She was just standing there, her eyes glassy and unfocused. It was unnerving, to say the least. “Kagome?” she asked cautiously as she moved to the younger woman’s side.
“Oh, I’m sorry Sango, my mind was somewhere else. Umm… hi. Hi Miroku.” she greeted halfheartedly as the monk joined them.
Not liking the priestesses’ demeanor Miroku placed a hand on her shoulder. “Is something wrong, Lady Kagome?”
Taking an extra moment to steady herself, Kagome nodded slowly. “Yeah,” she said after a moment. “There is something wrong, but I can’t tell you yet; not until Inuyasha and Kikyou get here.”
“This sounds serious.” said Sango as she drew closer to her husband for support.
Feeling slightly uncomfortable by the unconscious display, the young miko averted her gaze. “It is.” she confirmed solemnly. Miroku looked as if he would say something else, but a bellowing call drew everyone’s attention.
“Hey Kagome, you’d better have a damn good excuse for…!”
The hanyou’s short tirade ended abruptly as he skidded to a stop before her. The look on her face told him that something was terribly, terribly wrong. He allowed Kikyou to slide from his back and come to his side before turning his full attention to her. “What’s going on, Kagome?”
She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she watched with detached interest as Shippou, descended from the sky. He immediately transformed back into his kitsune form and darted into the hut. He probably wanted to be with Rin.
“It’s… it’s Kaede.” she said after a long uncomfortable moment.
“Yeah, what about her?” the hanyou asked impatiently, and Kagome looked at him, the gaze so intense it nearly caused him to shudder where he stood.
“She’s not…” she began uneasily. “She’s sick; really, really sick.”
Kikyou’s brows drew together in concern. “How sick?” she asked carefully.
Kagome shook her head as if to say no. “She’s… she’s dying.”
Kikyou and Sango gasped, while Miroku‘s lips parted silently. For a moment, Inuyasha simply stared at her in stunned silence. “No!” he finally said as he took a step away from her. “That can’t be true. There has to be some mistake!”
Placing a firm hand on the hanyou’s shoulder, Miroku asked, “Are you certain Kagome?”
Clutching the front of her haori with her free hand, Kagome drew in a deep breath. “Yeah.” she answered quietly. “She has a really bad disease and…”
“NO!!!” The hanyou’s voice was louder this time, his unwillingness to accept her words evident in his tone. “We’ll get help for her! We’ll find a healer!” he shrugged away from the monk and began walking toward the hut.
“Inuyasha!” Kagome interjected as calmly as she could. She grabbed his arm before he could get away and he turned to look at her. “Listen to me. There is nothing anyone can do for her. Even in my time there wouldn’t be anything they could do. You need to accept…”
“Damn it, I said NO!!! We need to find someone who can help! You all might be willing to let this happen, but I’m not! Kaede can‘t… can‘t…” he faltered the word too difficult to say. “She just…she just cant!” He snatched his arm from her and turned away but Kagome reached out and grabbed him again. Their friends gathered around and watched with varying levels of concern at the escalating levels of tension between them.
“Inuyasha, you’re not being rational right now. You need to calm down and listen to me”
“NO!! You need to listen to me!!!” he roared. “Kaede is NOT going to die, damn it! I won’t let her! I can’t!”
“Stop it, Inuyasha!” the miko cried desperately. “Just stop it!!!” She had to make him understand before he could create a glimmer of hope in her heart. Inuyasha had always saved her, had saved all of them at some point, but there was no saving Kaede. Not this time. She needed to make him understand that.
“Inuyasha, there is NOTHING you can do to save her, and you need to accept that!”
“And what about YOU??!!” he shouted, his face flushing with his rising emotions. “Those healing lessons gotta be good for SOMETHING!! What about that, KAGOME??!!”
Quiet gasps could be heard from their friends but neither the hanyou nor the miko took note. Kagome’s eyes shot opened wide as she stared at Inuyasha in shock. Before she even realized what had happened, she had thrown her umbrella to the ground and reared her hand back as far as it could go. She quickly flung it forward again, and with a resounding ‘smack’ her palm made sharp, stinging contact with the hanyou’s cheek. A small red handprint instantly appeared on his face.
Her body coursing with adrenaline, the miko didn’t give him a chance to respond before she screamed, “How DARE YOU??!! How dare you say something like that to me, Inuyasha??!! Don’t you think I thought of that??!! Don’t you think I did everything I could for her??!! If I thought walking barefoot through hell would save her, you know damn well I would do it without complaint! You know me far better than to think otherwise!!”
Still boiling with rage, she grabbed the front of his haori and yanked him forward so that his face was just inches away from hers. “Now you WILL listen to me!!! You will pull yourself together right now! Right now, Inuyasha!!!” she repeated as she shook him for emphasis. “Then, you will go into that hut and tell Kaede that you love her and say your goodbyes!!!” She then pushed him away, and turned to the next closest person to her. That person happened to be Kikyou. Without thinking about her actions, the young miko wrapped her arms around the stunned woman and held on for dear life. “It’s not my fault!” she cried. “I wanted to save her, I really did but she said I couldn’t!!! She wouldn’t even let me try!!”
Initially unsure of what to do, the elder miko cautiously returned Kagome’s embrace. Then carefully, as if she thought she would hurt her, she began gently stroking the younger woman’s damp hair. “Kagome… Kagome please do not cry.” the elder miko pled quietly as tears slipped down her own cheeks. Frowning at the hanyou’s insensitivity, Kikyou gradually tightened her embrace.
Still in shock, the hanyou missed the murderous glares being leveled on him by those around him. This was all too much to handle, and he wasn’t really sure what to do.
“K-Kagome, I-I didn’t mean to…”
“I think you have said enough, Inuyasha.” interrupted Miroku. “Perhaps you should do as Kagome instructed.”
His ears flattening, the hanyou reached out for his friend, but refrained from touching her. He hadn’t meant to say what he’d said, he was just… he couldn’t…
Unsure what else he could do, Inuyasha turned toward the hut.
“Wait!” Kagome’s wavering voice called out. Taking several deep, shaky breaths, she wiped away her tears. “I-I think we should all go together, but…” she trailed off as she drew another deep breath. “I need to tell you guys some things first. I don’t know when she’ll wake up; she’s been sleeping a lot. And she… she’s lost a lot of weight, and she doesn’t… sometimes she rambles when she talks. Please try not to appear shocked when you see her. The past couple of weeks… haven’t been good to her.”
Kikyou gasped quietly and Sango held back a whimper. “And please, no crying.” Kagome added sternly, a bit of her strength returning as she spoke the words. “Kaede is a very proud woman, and she doesn’t want us to sit around feeling sorry for her.”
After a brief moment of silence, each member of the small group nodded his or her understanding. Inuyasha, for all his big talk, and reckless bravery, was actually afraid. What would he see when he went inside the hut to see Kaede? What if… what if she really did die? It seemed almost impossible to even consider. The old woman was so strong willed and stubborn, he thought she’d live forever. He knew it wasn’t really possible, but he just… he wasn’t ready for this.
The world around him slowed to a surreal crawl. He watched as Kagome turned away from them and retrieved her discarded umbrella. She looked back briefly and gave a look that she may have thought was reassuring before heading toward the hut. The others followed, and he reluctantly took his first step. His heart was racing, and he felt a sensation he had not experienced since his childhood. He wanted to run away. He wanted to run far away and pretend that none of this had ever happened, but he didn’t. He gritted his teeth and pressed on. He didn’t realize that he was standing just in front of the hut until the straw panel flipped open and the little girl stepped out. ‘Rin.’ he corrected mentally.
“Oh,” she said as she looked up in mild surprise. “Lady Kagome, I was just coming to get you. Lady Kaede is awake now.”
Kagome nodded before looking back to them again. “Please, remember what I said.” she asked quietly before stepping into the hut. Miroku and Sango followed, and he and Kikyou were last.
For Inuyasha, the air inside the hut was almost stifling. The scent of illness was everywhere, even though he could tell that the miko’s clothes and bedding had recently been washed. To his left, Rin and Shippou were huddled close together near a small fire; to his right… was Kaede. She looked… terrible. Her already aged face appeared to be more wrinkled than usual, likely due to her rapid weight loss. Her eye was opened, but it looked glassy and unfocused. When she heard them enter the room however, she managed to turn her head slightly to look at them.
“Kagome… has already spoken to ye, I presume?” she wheezed out, her hand spasmodically clutching at her middle. But no one said anything. The degree of shock over her condition was almost palpable. It was the most difficult sight any of them had ever seen.
“Yeah,” Kagome finally answered as she walked forward to kneel by the miko’s side. “Do you want some water?” When the elder miko gave a faint nod, Kagome helped her to drink some water from one of her small plastic bottles. “How’s your pain?” she asked as she reached for a bottle of medicine.
“It… is not as bad… now that ye are all here.”
Kagome smiled sadly. She knew Kaede was lying, but she also knew that no matter how much medicine she gave her, the pain wouldn’t go away. She supposed that she just wanted to feel like she was helping even if she really wasn‘t. “Rin can you please go to the back and bring me some pillows?”
“Yes, of course.” the girl answered quickly as she hopped up to retrieve the cushions. She emerged a short time later with several pillows in her arms.
Struggling to hold back her tears, Kikyou made her way to her sister’s side. “Please, allow me to help.” she asked quietly as she kneeled at Kaede’s remaining side.
Kagome nodded, and together the two miko’s placed the pillows beneath her upper body so that she was partially inclined. “How’s that?” Kagome asked as she brushed a few stray hairs away from the elder miko’s brow.
Kaede smiled tiredly. “It… is fine, child. I told ye… not to worry over this old woman.”
“I love you, Kaede. I can’t help but to worry a little.”
Her smile widened slightly. “I love ye too child. All of ye.” she said as the small group gathered around her. She could tell that they were all hurting, but they did the best they could to hide it. Kagome would always offer her comforting gestures and words. Miroku and Sango held one another, each borrowing what little comfort they could from the other. Strangely, Rin and Shippou seemed to be doing much the same thing. Her sister, Kikyou was just barely holding herself together. She feared that at any moment the woman would burst into tears. And Inuyasha just kept staring at her. He was never one for soft words, and situations like this were especially difficult for him. She could tell that he was unsure of how to deal with it. It was odd, but even in these last moments of her life, Kaede felt bad for the hanyou.
“Kaede?” Kikyou asked suddenly, breaking the heavy silence that had settled into the room. “I think… I think that I can assist with your pain.” She shot a glance at Kagome before continuing, “That is, if Kagome would be willing to assist me.”
Before the younger miko could answer, Kaede began, “My dearest sister, do not fuss…”
“Please!” the miko begged almost desperately. “If not for yourself, then for us. Please.”
Seeing the similar beseeching looks from all of the others, the old miko nodded weakly. “If it will please ye.” she said quietly.
Wasting no time, Kikyou placed both hands on Kaede’s abdomen. “Kagome, please place your hands over mine, and concentrate on your healing powers.”
Kagome frowned. “But we can’t…”
“I know it will not heal her, but together, our powers should be enough to mute much of her pain.”
“Okay.” Kagome agreed as she placed her hands as instructed. Working together, the two priestesses concentrated on their powers. Kaede allowed her eye to close as the three of them were soon enveloped in a soft pink glow. The feeling of comfort and warmth surrounded her as she relaxed under the women’s loving touch. Gradually, the intensity of her pain began to fade. It was a wonderful feeling. She had grown so accustomed to the agonizing discomfort, that she’d nearly forgotten what it was like to feel normal. Inhaling deeply for the first time in weeks, she reveled in the simple pleasure of drawing the much needed air into her lungs. She then exhaled slowly, her eye opening of its own volition. By then, the glow of the mikos’ power was beginning to fade.
“Do you feel better now?” asked Kikyou as she stemmed the flow of her powers, prompting Kagome to do the same.
A genuine smile formed on the elder miko’s lips then. “Aye, much better now.” she sighed contently.
Kagome returned her smile, a small tear slipping from her eye. “I wish I had known I could do that before.” she said as she brushed the tear away.
Kikyou gave her a sympathetic look. “Do not worry. It is unlikely that either of us would have been powerful enough to do this alone.”
The young miko nodded before looking to Kaede again. She even looked better now. Her complexion still held much of its unhealthy yellow tone, but she didn’t look as tired now. The lines of pain that had creased her brow had softened, if only a little bit.
Without realizing it, the group breathed a collective sigh of relief. It was already hard knowing that Kaede’s time in this world was coming to its end, but seeing her in so much pain had made it nearly unbearable.
Once Kikyou and Kagome had finished assisting Kaede with her pain, a sort of unspoken agreement was reached. Everyone seemed to understand that the best thing to do was to pretend that everything was normal; as if they were simply visiting after a long absence. Sango and Miroku shared updates and slayer stories from the past few weeks. Shippou bragged about his most recent accomplishments and advancements of his kitsune training. Rin shared the lessons on herb identification and the making of medicines as taught to her by both her mentors. For her part, Kikyou shared the newest goings on of her new village, and spoke briefly of hers and Inuyasha’s impending wedding.
As for Inuyasha, he appeared to be sulking. Either that or he was deep in thought. As he tended to sulk more often than engage in profound mental contemplation, it was rather easy to assume the former. Whatever the case, he rarely took his eyes off of the elder miko. It was as if he were trying to burn the memory of her last living moments into his mind where they could be preserved for the rest of his days.
To have them all together with her was bitter sweet for Kaede. She was unafraid to pass into the next world, and she was happy to have her family by her side. Her joy was only dulled by the holes she knew she would leave in each of their hearts once she was gone. Content to simply listen, she relaxed as they spoke to her and amongst themselves. Kagome would occasionally try to get her to eat something. Kikyou spoke to her gently, and touched her as if she were made of delicate glass. Miroku almost repeatedly asked if there was anything he could do, while Sango busied herself by tidying up the hut. Rin and Shippou mostly talked to each other, but both would occasionally rub her hand, stroke her hair or touch her in some way. It was strangely intriguing to see the different ways they all dealt with their grief.
All too soon, fatigue settled in again. The desire to sleep wrapped itself around her unwilling to let go until she surrendered. Kaede fought it off for as long as she could, but after a few hours she could hold out no longer.
While she slept the group did what they could to keep their minds occupied. They engaged in idle chit-chat, attempted to eat, and kept watch over the elder miko. Not five minutes went by before one or more of them were checking to ensure that she was still breathing. Some attempted to disguise their efforts while others did not.
And so, that was how they passed the time while Kaede was asleep. She would wake from time to time, and they would gather around; talk to her and make sure that she was comfortable. Rin even managed to get her to eat some soup. It was only a little, but somehow it comforted the others to see her eat.
The day seemed to drag on forever. When darkness finally settled onto the land, the strain and stress of the day began to take its toll. Though no one really wanted to sleep they were all exhausted. One by one they each drifted off.
Sighing deeply, Kagome shifted in her sleep attempting to find a more comfortable position. As soon as she did however, she felt an icy chill rush through her body. Her heart began to race. Something was wrong! She sat up abruptly, her first instinct being to check on Kaede. Her eyes rounded in horror at the sight that greeted her.
“Oh, no…” she whispered quietly.
It was Inuyasha.
Held securely in his arms was her friend, mentor, and the grandmother of her heart. The silent tears streaking down the hanyou’s face stood out even in the dim light of the dying fire. He was rocking back and forth ever so slightly. The sight would have been touching if it were not for Kaede’s arms, which lay limp by her sides. Her head was cradled against his chest, so Kagome could not see her face, but she knew… she knew.
“She’s gone.” the hanyou whispered, unknowingly voicing Kagome’s own thoughts. “She’s gone.”
Kagome felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. She knew this was coming, but how could one truly be prepared for such a thing? A broken whimper escaped her lips before she hastily scrambled over to them. She wrapped her arms around them both and burst into tears.
Inuyasha gritted his teeth as one of the young miko’s arms snaked around him in a surprisingly tight embrace. The sound of her crying only fueled his own anguish. This hurt like hell. He had been in many battles, and experienced many maladies, but this HURT! Kaede was gone, and there was nothing he could have done to save her; nothing he could do to bring her back. The feeling of helplessness compounded his pain that much more.
Around him the others were beginning to wake and realize what was going on. Normally he would have hated for them to see him shedding tears, but right now he couldn’t bring himself to care. He loved Kaede; even more than he’d realized.
He pulled back slightly so that he could see the old miko’s face. She looked so peaceful, so relaxed. He could almost pretend that she was merely sleeping. She wasn’t though.
If he could take solace in one thing it was the fact that before she departed this world, Kaede knew that she was loved. He had been right there with her in those final moments.
‘I told you not to get sick on me old woman.’ he had told her.
A faint ghost of a smile had graced her parched lips and she’d managed to answer. ‘Will ye… forgive me then?’
‘Humph… what choice do I have?’
Her smile had widened slightly.
Then, remembering what Kagome said, and knowing that he would never have another chance he’d ventured into uncharted territory. ‘I’ll miss you, Kaede. I… I’ll always love you; we all will.’
She wouldn’t have a chance to respond however, for as soon as he’d finished speaking, she drew her final breath. It was released in a quiet pant, but the faint smile remained on her lips.
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It was late, really, really late. Or maybe it was early? She could scarcely tell the difference anymore. All Kagome knew was that it was really dark and she was really tired. She wouldn’t bother trying to sleep though. Exhausted as she was, she knew that restful sleep would elude her once again.
It had been three days since they’d buried Kaede. That first night, everyone stayed there with her, taking and giving what comfort they could. Kagome had taken that opportunity to share with them the things she’d learned from both Kaede and Masuyo. Kaede was gone, but at least her soul would find peace, love and happiness.
The next day however, Miroku and Sango reluctantly returned to their village. It was not safe to stay away for too long as rumors of rising demon attacks had recently begun to surface. Kikyou and Inuyasha had left the next day. The hanyou didn’t seem to want to go, but had done so out of respect for his future mate.
Once they were all gone, Kagome buried herself in her work. Between that, and dealing with Rin and Shippou, there was little time for anything else during the day. The nights however, was a different story. The first two nights weren’t so bad because the others had been there, but tonight it was just her and the children, and they were asleep. They had pushed their futons next to her sleeping bag and curled up on either side of her before finally drifting off. She wasn’t so fortunate. Finally, she abandoned her halfhearted pursuit of sleep, and slipped out of her bag to sit outside. Maybe some fresh air would be good for her.
‘I want to go home!’ she whined miserably to herself. Not for the first time, she found herself wanting to hop into the well, find her mom to curl up in her lap, and cry like a baby. But she couldn’t do that. She was all Rin and Shippou had now, and she needed to stay with them. Besides she was an adult now, and she needed to act like one. Still, it’d be nice if someone would comfort her for a change.
She sighed quietly as she ran her fingers along the edge of a small photo. It was her favorite picture of Kaede. Though it was taken just a couple of weeks before she died, it was actually a really good picture. Her pain had been reduced by the medicine she’d brought her, and the elder miko looked… happy.
Kagome smiled down on the image of her friend. “I miss you so much.” she said quietly.
“Humph. I did not realize you cared.” came a bland reply from her immediate left.
Startled, Kagome looked up. She had been so distracted she’d managed to miss his approach
“Sesshoumaru?!”
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A Final Farwell
A/N: Mandybean, one of my lovely readers brought something to my attention and I just wanted to take a moment to address it. It was about Masuyo’s shrine. The shrine is not a real physical place, but more of a gateway. It is a passage that leads to a sort of alternate realm for the mikos who pass through it. It will take Kaede to a reality created by her own memories and desires and give her the life she would have wanted had she not spent hers in service to others. I only hinted at this, but did not explain it fully.
I hope this makes sense.
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It had taken a great deal of strength not to break down and cry. This was it. This was really it. For Kaede to have said that it was time to tell the others, meant that her time in this world was truly drawing to its end. She had really wanted to cry. She had wanted to curl into herself and cry like a baby, but somehow… she managed not to do so.
‘I told you to stop that.’
The words had been Sesshoumaru’s. He had been chiding her for wallowing in her own self pity, but this wasn’t the same thing. Still, somehow the words managed to take away the sting of tears from her eyes. And so, she didn’t cry. She needed to be strong right now anyway. Besides, there would be plenty of time for crying later.
Awake now, Rin was seated next to her. Gently rocking back and forth, Kagome stroked the girl’s hair lightly. The two females sat together in silence; each holding the other in a sidelong embrace. It had been before dawn when Kaede had spoken to her, and now it was early morning. After their brief discussion, Kagome had awakened the children and as delicately as possible, explained to them what was going on. Rin had barely managed to hold back her tears, and Shippou, thankfully put on a brave front for them both. Kagome had then instructed him to go to the others and tell them to come to the village. He was to go to Sango and Miroku’s first, since they were the furthest away. Afterwards he was to go to Kikyou’s village. That way, they would hopefully arrive around the same time.
The kit was not to disclose any specific details. He was only to tell them that it was extremely important, and that they needed to come right away. His strength and power had increased a great deal over the years, not to mention the control he had gained through the lessons he had begun taking. Because of that, he could travel quickly from one village to the other in the form of a large eagle.
She was sure he had only been gone for about an hour, but it seemed like an eternity. For a long while, the silence in the small hut had been deafening, but within the last few minutes, it had started to rain. The light tapping of cool wet droplets against the thatched roof, normally a comforting sound did little to lighten their moods.
Neither female dared to say a word. They simply stared in silence at the slumbering form of Kaede. Soon after she had spoken with Kagome she had again fallen asleep. It was so hard to see her like this. She had always been so strong, so firm and sure in everything she did, and now her life was fading away before their eyes.
Kagome blinked slowly and took a deep breath. Her friends would be here soon, and she would have to break the news to them. She tightened her hold on Rin for a short moment before releasing her. Then slowly, reverently, she reached for Kaede’s hand. Wrapping her fingers around it, she placed the limp appendage in her lap. ‘Still warm.’ she thought absently in a vain attempt to seek comfort.
‘How can I do this?’ she wondered as she began to caress the heavily creased, age spotted hand of the elder miko. ‘They’ll know I kept this from them. Will they be angry with me for it? How can I make them understand? I wanted to tell them, but I couldn’t betray you! I promised I wouldn’t and I understand why you asked me not to but… this is just so hard!!! How can I do this??!!’ Gritting her teeth against the impending tears, she tightened her grip on her mentor’s hand. In spite of her weakened appearance, she knew Kaede’s inner strength still thrummed beneath her weary surface. ‘Please Kaede,’ she begged as she looked down on her, ‘please let me borrow your strength.’
Then, the elder miko’s hand flexed just a little bit, and Kagome could hear Kaede’s voice inside her mind. ‘The strength ye require is already within ye. Ye need only to utilize it. I have great faith in ye, child.’
A small smile formed on her lips then. The words sounded so much like what Kaede really would have said that she could almost pretend she had.
“Okay.” she said out loud as she leaned forward and placed a light kiss on the old miko’s brow. “I’ll do my best. I promise.” Just then, a light tingling against her skin told her that a demon was approaching.
Kirara.
“They’re here.” she said more to herself than anyone else. Rin just nodded and looked at her, her eyes wide and expectant. “I want you to stay here and watch over Kaede.” The young miko told her. “If she wakes up or… or stops breathing, come get me right away.”
“Yes, Lady Kagome.” the girl answered, her voice quavering slightly.
Before she could move to stand, Kagome caught sight of the girl’s trembling lower lip. Turning back to her, she placed a hand on each of her shoulders to gain her full attention. “Remember what I told you, Rin. I know you’re hurting right now, but I need you to be strong, okay?”
Nodding, she echoed Kagome’s earlier words, “I’ll do my best.”
Kagome smiled sadly. “That’s all I can ask.” She wanted to pull the girl into her arms and promise her that everything was going to be okay, but she couldn’t do that. She couldn’t lie to her like that, and she knew that embracing her would only make them both cry. So, before she could second guess herself, she turned away and quickly rose to her feet. She went to the corner near the door and dug out her old umbrella. “Ill be back soon.” she told Rin without turning around, and with that, she went out into the rain.
_________________________________________________________________ _______
“I wonder what this is all about.” Sango said worriedly as Inuyasha’s forest came into view.
“I don’t know, but I don’t have a good feeling about it. Shippou seemed pretty upset, and the fact that he wouldn’t tell us what was happening makes me that much more concerned.” Miroku answered quietly.
“Well, I just hope Kohaku gets our message. I wonder if he should have come as well.” said Sango. She was trying, with only minimal success, to fight off the sense of foreboding by changing the subject slightly.
If only Shippou had come a day earlier, Kohaku could have been able to come with them. She worried about her brother sometimes. He was still a bit standoffish at times, and had refused all offers to remain in the village with she and Miroku. The damage inflicted by Naraku was more than just skin deep apparently. She could only hope that he found happiness, and remained safe.
“Look!” Miroku exclaimed, mild excitement heightening his voice. “It’s Kagome!”
Her train of thought having come to an abrupt end, Sango focused her attention on the ground below. Sure enough, the distinct form of Kagome’s umbrella stood a short distance from Kaede’s hut. Why was she standing outside in the rain? Granted it wasn’t a heavy downpour, but still…
Soon, Kirara touched down and she and Miroku dismounted. “Kagome!” Sango cried as she ran across the slick wet grass to meet her friend. When the young miko made no move to approach her, the huntress knew without a doubt that something was wrong. She was just standing there, her eyes glassy and unfocused. It was unnerving, to say the least. “Kagome?” she asked cautiously as she moved to the younger woman’s side.
“Oh, I’m sorry Sango, my mind was somewhere else. Umm… hi. Hi Miroku.” she greeted halfheartedly as the monk joined them.
Not liking the priestesses’ demeanor Miroku placed a hand on her shoulder. “Is something wrong, Lady Kagome?”
Taking an extra moment to steady herself, Kagome nodded slowly. “Yeah,” she said after a moment. “There is something wrong, but I can’t tell you yet; not until Inuyasha and Kikyou get here.”
“This sounds serious.” said Sango as she drew closer to her husband for support.
Feeling slightly uncomfortable by the unconscious display, the young miko averted her gaze. “It is.” she confirmed solemnly. Miroku looked as if he would say something else, but a bellowing call drew everyone’s attention.
“Hey Kagome, you’d better have a damn good excuse for…!”
The hanyou’s short tirade ended abruptly as he skidded to a stop before her. The look on her face told him that something was terribly, terribly wrong. He allowed Kikyou to slide from his back and come to his side before turning his full attention to her. “What’s going on, Kagome?”
She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she watched with detached interest as Shippou, descended from the sky. He immediately transformed back into his kitsune form and darted into the hut. He probably wanted to be with Rin.
“It’s… it’s Kaede.” she said after a long uncomfortable moment.
“Yeah, what about her?” the hanyou asked impatiently, and Kagome looked at him, the gaze so intense it nearly caused him to shudder where he stood.
“She’s not…” she began uneasily. “She’s sick; really, really sick.”
Kikyou’s brows drew together in concern. “How sick?” she asked carefully.
Kagome shook her head as if to say no. “She’s… she’s dying.”
Kikyou and Sango gasped, while Miroku‘s lips parted silently. For a moment, Inuyasha simply stared at her in stunned silence. “No!” he finally said as he took a step away from her. “That can’t be true. There has to be some mistake!”
Placing a firm hand on the hanyou’s shoulder, Miroku asked, “Are you certain Kagome?”
Clutching the front of her haori with her free hand, Kagome drew in a deep breath. “Yeah.” she answered quietly. “She has a really bad disease and…”
“NO!!!” The hanyou’s voice was louder this time, his unwillingness to accept her words evident in his tone. “We’ll get help for her! We’ll find a healer!” he shrugged away from the monk and began walking toward the hut.
“Inuyasha!” Kagome interjected as calmly as she could. She grabbed his arm before he could get away and he turned to look at her. “Listen to me. There is nothing anyone can do for her. Even in my time there wouldn’t be anything they could do. You need to accept…”
“Damn it, I said NO!!! We need to find someone who can help! You all might be willing to let this happen, but I’m not! Kaede can‘t… can‘t…” he faltered the word too difficult to say. “She just…she just cant!” He snatched his arm from her and turned away but Kagome reached out and grabbed him again. Their friends gathered around and watched with varying levels of concern at the escalating levels of tension between them.
“Inuyasha, you’re not being rational right now. You need to calm down and listen to me”
“NO!! You need to listen to me!!!” he roared. “Kaede is NOT going to die, damn it! I won’t let her! I can’t!”
“Stop it, Inuyasha!” the miko cried desperately. “Just stop it!!!” She had to make him understand before he could create a glimmer of hope in her heart. Inuyasha had always saved her, had saved all of them at some point, but there was no saving Kaede. Not this time. She needed to make him understand that.
“Inuyasha, there is NOTHING you can do to save her, and you need to accept that!”
“And what about YOU??!!” he shouted, his face flushing with his rising emotions. “Those healing lessons gotta be good for SOMETHING!! What about that, KAGOME??!!”
Quiet gasps could be heard from their friends but neither the hanyou nor the miko took note. Kagome’s eyes shot opened wide as she stared at Inuyasha in shock. Before she even realized what had happened, she had thrown her umbrella to the ground and reared her hand back as far as it could go. She quickly flung it forward again, and with a resounding ‘smack’ her palm made sharp, stinging contact with the hanyou’s cheek. A small red handprint instantly appeared on his face.
Her body coursing with adrenaline, the miko didn’t give him a chance to respond before she screamed, “How DARE YOU??!! How dare you say something like that to me, Inuyasha??!! Don’t you think I thought of that??!! Don’t you think I did everything I could for her??!! If I thought walking barefoot through hell would save her, you know damn well I would do it without complaint! You know me far better than to think otherwise!!”
Still boiling with rage, she grabbed the front of his haori and yanked him forward so that his face was just inches away from hers. “Now you WILL listen to me!!! You will pull yourself together right now! Right now, Inuyasha!!!” she repeated as she shook him for emphasis. “Then, you will go into that hut and tell Kaede that you love her and say your goodbyes!!!” She then pushed him away, and turned to the next closest person to her. That person happened to be Kikyou. Without thinking about her actions, the young miko wrapped her arms around the stunned woman and held on for dear life. “It’s not my fault!” she cried. “I wanted to save her, I really did but she said I couldn’t!!! She wouldn’t even let me try!!”
Initially unsure of what to do, the elder miko cautiously returned Kagome’s embrace. Then carefully, as if she thought she would hurt her, she began gently stroking the younger woman’s damp hair. “Kagome… Kagome please do not cry.” the elder miko pled quietly as tears slipped down her own cheeks. Frowning at the hanyou’s insensitivity, Kikyou gradually tightened her embrace.
Still in shock, the hanyou missed the murderous glares being leveled on him by those around him. This was all too much to handle, and he wasn’t really sure what to do.
“K-Kagome, I-I didn’t mean to…”
“I think you have said enough, Inuyasha.” interrupted Miroku. “Perhaps you should do as Kagome instructed.”
His ears flattening, the hanyou reached out for his friend, but refrained from touching her. He hadn’t meant to say what he’d said, he was just… he couldn’t…
Unsure what else he could do, Inuyasha turned toward the hut.
“Wait!” Kagome’s wavering voice called out. Taking several deep, shaky breaths, she wiped away her tears. “I-I think we should all go together, but…” she trailed off as she drew another deep breath. “I need to tell you guys some things first. I don’t know when she’ll wake up; she’s been sleeping a lot. And she… she’s lost a lot of weight, and she doesn’t… sometimes she rambles when she talks. Please try not to appear shocked when you see her. The past couple of weeks… haven’t been good to her.”
Kikyou gasped quietly and Sango held back a whimper. “And please, no crying.” Kagome added sternly, a bit of her strength returning as she spoke the words. “Kaede is a very proud woman, and she doesn’t want us to sit around feeling sorry for her.”
After a brief moment of silence, each member of the small group nodded his or her understanding. Inuyasha, for all his big talk, and reckless bravery, was actually afraid. What would he see when he went inside the hut to see Kaede? What if… what if she really did die? It seemed almost impossible to even consider. The old woman was so strong willed and stubborn, he thought she’d live forever. He knew it wasn’t really possible, but he just… he wasn’t ready for this.
The world around him slowed to a surreal crawl. He watched as Kagome turned away from them and retrieved her discarded umbrella. She looked back briefly and gave a look that she may have thought was reassuring before heading toward the hut. The others followed, and he reluctantly took his first step. His heart was racing, and he felt a sensation he had not experienced since his childhood. He wanted to run away. He wanted to run far away and pretend that none of this had ever happened, but he didn’t. He gritted his teeth and pressed on. He didn’t realize that he was standing just in front of the hut until the straw panel flipped open and the little girl stepped out. ‘Rin.’ he corrected mentally.
“Oh,” she said as she looked up in mild surprise. “Lady Kagome, I was just coming to get you. Lady Kaede is awake now.”
Kagome nodded before looking back to them again. “Please, remember what I said.” she asked quietly before stepping into the hut. Miroku and Sango followed, and he and Kikyou were last.
For Inuyasha, the air inside the hut was almost stifling. The scent of illness was everywhere, even though he could tell that the miko’s clothes and bedding had recently been washed. To his left, Rin and Shippou were huddled close together near a small fire; to his right… was Kaede. She looked… terrible. Her already aged face appeared to be more wrinkled than usual, likely due to her rapid weight loss. Her eye was opened, but it looked glassy and unfocused. When she heard them enter the room however, she managed to turn her head slightly to look at them.
“Kagome… has already spoken to ye, I presume?” she wheezed out, her hand spasmodically clutching at her middle. But no one said anything. The degree of shock over her condition was almost palpable. It was the most difficult sight any of them had ever seen.
“Yeah,” Kagome finally answered as she walked forward to kneel by the miko’s side. “Do you want some water?” When the elder miko gave a faint nod, Kagome helped her to drink some water from one of her small plastic bottles. “How’s your pain?” she asked as she reached for a bottle of medicine.
“It… is not as bad… now that ye are all here.”
Kagome smiled sadly. She knew Kaede was lying, but she also knew that no matter how much medicine she gave her, the pain wouldn’t go away. She supposed that she just wanted to feel like she was helping even if she really wasn‘t. “Rin can you please go to the back and bring me some pillows?”
“Yes, of course.” the girl answered quickly as she hopped up to retrieve the cushions. She emerged a short time later with several pillows in her arms.
Struggling to hold back her tears, Kikyou made her way to her sister’s side. “Please, allow me to help.” she asked quietly as she kneeled at Kaede’s remaining side.
Kagome nodded, and together the two miko’s placed the pillows beneath her upper body so that she was partially inclined. “How’s that?” Kagome asked as she brushed a few stray hairs away from the elder miko’s brow.
Kaede smiled tiredly. “It… is fine, child. I told ye… not to worry over this old woman.”
“I love you, Kaede. I can’t help but to worry a little.”
Her smile widened slightly. “I love ye too child. All of ye.” she said as the small group gathered around her. She could tell that they were all hurting, but they did the best they could to hide it. Kagome would always offer her comforting gestures and words. Miroku and Sango held one another, each borrowing what little comfort they could from the other. Strangely, Rin and Shippou seemed to be doing much the same thing. Her sister, Kikyou was just barely holding herself together. She feared that at any moment the woman would burst into tears. And Inuyasha just kept staring at her. He was never one for soft words, and situations like this were especially difficult for him. She could tell that he was unsure of how to deal with it. It was odd, but even in these last moments of her life, Kaede felt bad for the hanyou.
“Kaede?” Kikyou asked suddenly, breaking the heavy silence that had settled into the room. “I think… I think that I can assist with your pain.” She shot a glance at Kagome before continuing, “That is, if Kagome would be willing to assist me.”
Before the younger miko could answer, Kaede began, “My dearest sister, do not fuss…”
“Please!” the miko begged almost desperately. “If not for yourself, then for us. Please.”
Seeing the similar beseeching looks from all of the others, the old miko nodded weakly. “If it will please ye.” she said quietly.
Wasting no time, Kikyou placed both hands on Kaede’s abdomen. “Kagome, please place your hands over mine, and concentrate on your healing powers.”
Kagome frowned. “But we can’t…”
“I know it will not heal her, but together, our powers should be enough to mute much of her pain.”
“Okay.” Kagome agreed as she placed her hands as instructed. Working together, the two priestesses concentrated on their powers. Kaede allowed her eye to close as the three of them were soon enveloped in a soft pink glow. The feeling of comfort and warmth surrounded her as she relaxed under the women’s loving touch. Gradually, the intensity of her pain began to fade. It was a wonderful feeling. She had grown so accustomed to the agonizing discomfort, that she’d nearly forgotten what it was like to feel normal. Inhaling deeply for the first time in weeks, she reveled in the simple pleasure of drawing the much needed air into her lungs. She then exhaled slowly, her eye opening of its own volition. By then, the glow of the mikos’ power was beginning to fade.
“Do you feel better now?” asked Kikyou as she stemmed the flow of her powers, prompting Kagome to do the same.
A genuine smile formed on the elder miko’s lips then. “Aye, much better now.” she sighed contently.
Kagome returned her smile, a small tear slipping from her eye. “I wish I had known I could do that before.” she said as she brushed the tear away.
Kikyou gave her a sympathetic look. “Do not worry. It is unlikely that either of us would have been powerful enough to do this alone.”
The young miko nodded before looking to Kaede again. She even looked better now. Her complexion still held much of its unhealthy yellow tone, but she didn’t look as tired now. The lines of pain that had creased her brow had softened, if only a little bit.
Without realizing it, the group breathed a collective sigh of relief. It was already hard knowing that Kaede’s time in this world was coming to its end, but seeing her in so much pain had made it nearly unbearable.
Once Kikyou and Kagome had finished assisting Kaede with her pain, a sort of unspoken agreement was reached. Everyone seemed to understand that the best thing to do was to pretend that everything was normal; as if they were simply visiting after a long absence. Sango and Miroku shared updates and slayer stories from the past few weeks. Shippou bragged about his most recent accomplishments and advancements of his kitsune training. Rin shared the lessons on herb identification and the making of medicines as taught to her by both her mentors. For her part, Kikyou shared the newest goings on of her new village, and spoke briefly of hers and Inuyasha’s impending wedding.
As for Inuyasha, he appeared to be sulking. Either that or he was deep in thought. As he tended to sulk more often than engage in profound mental contemplation, it was rather easy to assume the former. Whatever the case, he rarely took his eyes off of the elder miko. It was as if he were trying to burn the memory of her last living moments into his mind where they could be preserved for the rest of his days.
To have them all together with her was bitter sweet for Kaede. She was unafraid to pass into the next world, and she was happy to have her family by her side. Her joy was only dulled by the holes she knew she would leave in each of their hearts once she was gone. Content to simply listen, she relaxed as they spoke to her and amongst themselves. Kagome would occasionally try to get her to eat something. Kikyou spoke to her gently, and touched her as if she were made of delicate glass. Miroku almost repeatedly asked if there was anything he could do, while Sango busied herself by tidying up the hut. Rin and Shippou mostly talked to each other, but both would occasionally rub her hand, stroke her hair or touch her in some way. It was strangely intriguing to see the different ways they all dealt with their grief.
All too soon, fatigue settled in again. The desire to sleep wrapped itself around her unwilling to let go until she surrendered. Kaede fought it off for as long as she could, but after a few hours she could hold out no longer.
While she slept the group did what they could to keep their minds occupied. They engaged in idle chit-chat, attempted to eat, and kept watch over the elder miko. Not five minutes went by before one or more of them were checking to ensure that she was still breathing. Some attempted to disguise their efforts while others did not.
And so, that was how they passed the time while Kaede was asleep. She would wake from time to time, and they would gather around; talk to her and make sure that she was comfortable. Rin even managed to get her to eat some soup. It was only a little, but somehow it comforted the others to see her eat.
The day seemed to drag on forever. When darkness finally settled onto the land, the strain and stress of the day began to take its toll. Though no one really wanted to sleep they were all exhausted. One by one they each drifted off.
Sighing deeply, Kagome shifted in her sleep attempting to find a more comfortable position. As soon as she did however, she felt an icy chill rush through her body. Her heart began to race. Something was wrong! She sat up abruptly, her first instinct being to check on Kaede. Her eyes rounded in horror at the sight that greeted her.
“Oh, no…” she whispered quietly.
It was Inuyasha.
Held securely in his arms was her friend, mentor, and the grandmother of her heart. The silent tears streaking down the hanyou’s face stood out even in the dim light of the dying fire. He was rocking back and forth ever so slightly. The sight would have been touching if it were not for Kaede’s arms, which lay limp by her sides. Her head was cradled against his chest, so Kagome could not see her face, but she knew… she knew.
“She’s gone.” the hanyou whispered, unknowingly voicing Kagome’s own thoughts. “She’s gone.”
Kagome felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. She knew this was coming, but how could one truly be prepared for such a thing? A broken whimper escaped her lips before she hastily scrambled over to them. She wrapped her arms around them both and burst into tears.
Inuyasha gritted his teeth as one of the young miko’s arms snaked around him in a surprisingly tight embrace. The sound of her crying only fueled his own anguish. This hurt like hell. He had been in many battles, and experienced many maladies, but this HURT! Kaede was gone, and there was nothing he could have done to save her; nothing he could do to bring her back. The feeling of helplessness compounded his pain that much more.
Around him the others were beginning to wake and realize what was going on. Normally he would have hated for them to see him shedding tears, but right now he couldn’t bring himself to care. He loved Kaede; even more than he’d realized.
He pulled back slightly so that he could see the old miko’s face. She looked so peaceful, so relaxed. He could almost pretend that she was merely sleeping. She wasn’t though.
If he could take solace in one thing it was the fact that before she departed this world, Kaede knew that she was loved. He had been right there with her in those final moments.
‘I told you not to get sick on me old woman.’ he had told her.
A faint ghost of a smile had graced her parched lips and she’d managed to answer. ‘Will ye… forgive me then?’
‘Humph… what choice do I have?’
Her smile had widened slightly.
Then, remembering what Kagome said, and knowing that he would never have another chance he’d ventured into uncharted territory. ‘I’ll miss you, Kaede. I… I’ll always love you; we all will.’
She wouldn’t have a chance to respond however, for as soon as he’d finished speaking, she drew her final breath. It was released in a quiet pant, but the faint smile remained on her lips.
_________________________________________________________________ _______
It was late, really, really late. Or maybe it was early? She could scarcely tell the difference anymore. All Kagome knew was that it was really dark and she was really tired. She wouldn’t bother trying to sleep though. Exhausted as she was, she knew that restful sleep would elude her once again.
It had been three days since they’d buried Kaede. That first night, everyone stayed there with her, taking and giving what comfort they could. Kagome had taken that opportunity to share with them the things she’d learned from both Kaede and Masuyo. Kaede was gone, but at least her soul would find peace, love and happiness.
The next day however, Miroku and Sango reluctantly returned to their village. It was not safe to stay away for too long as rumors of rising demon attacks had recently begun to surface. Kikyou and Inuyasha had left the next day. The hanyou didn’t seem to want to go, but had done so out of respect for his future mate.
Once they were all gone, Kagome buried herself in her work. Between that, and dealing with Rin and Shippou, there was little time for anything else during the day. The nights however, was a different story. The first two nights weren’t so bad because the others had been there, but tonight it was just her and the children, and they were asleep. They had pushed their futons next to her sleeping bag and curled up on either side of her before finally drifting off. She wasn’t so fortunate. Finally, she abandoned her halfhearted pursuit of sleep, and slipped out of her bag to sit outside. Maybe some fresh air would be good for her.
‘I want to go home!’ she whined miserably to herself. Not for the first time, she found herself wanting to hop into the well, find her mom to curl up in her lap, and cry like a baby. But she couldn’t do that. She was all Rin and Shippou had now, and she needed to stay with them. Besides she was an adult now, and she needed to act like one. Still, it’d be nice if someone would comfort her for a change.
She sighed quietly as she ran her fingers along the edge of a small photo. It was her favorite picture of Kaede. Though it was taken just a couple of weeks before she died, it was actually a really good picture. Her pain had been reduced by the medicine she’d brought her, and the elder miko looked… happy.
Kagome smiled down on the image of her friend. “I miss you so much.” she said quietly.
“Humph. I did not realize you cared.” came a bland reply from her immediate left.
Startled, Kagome looked up. She had been so distracted she’d managed to miss his approach
“Sesshoumaru?!”
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