InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secret Soul ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

*Disclaimer* I do not own Inuyasha. The world of Inuyasha was created by Rumiko Takahashi. Neither do I own the plot/storyline of the novel I am basing my story off of. I want it to be a surprise, so I won't say it until some people start guessing. But the plot is not my own. The way I right it, and the liberties I take, are my own, as are any OC's that grace the pages. THANK YOU!

 

~Author's Note~

Oh my gosh. Please don't hate me when you read this! It had to happen! It had to! The chain of events had to be set in motion! It was a hard chapter to write, but I hope it's at least well written. Read till the end…and…in advance…I'M SO SORRY!!!!

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

 

 

The screams coming from the birthing room were louder and more terrifying than any Kagome had every heard. Miroku sat quietly next to her, and she could sense his fear. She looked over at him. His eyes were closed, and hands clasped tightly, thumbs pressing against his mouth. Kagome felt sick to her stomach, and although she prayed ceaselessly in her mind and heart, the ominous feeling inside of her, as well as the energy all around her, would not be gone.

 

She felt tears prick her eyes as she remembered the frightening dream she had had a few nights ago while exorcizing an evil spirit in a nearby village. She had awoken with a start and in a cold sweat, her spiritual aura visible all around her. Her heart cried out for what she had seen, and she could only hope, though a vain hope she knew, that it had only been a nightmare. Upon returning to the village, she had found a smiling Sango, ready and willing to welcome her home. Her fears somewhat subsided…but only somewhat.

 

“Priestess! Please come quickly!” the voice of one of the midwives broke into Kagome's dark thoughts. Kagome felt something stab through her heart as she entered the room. Blood…there was so much blood… She knew about herbal medicine, and of healing injuries, but…nothing like this. A small bundle was wrapped tightly, and Kagome could see the blood seeping through the white cloth.

 

Sango had lost the baby. Tears stung her eyes, and terror gripped her heart as she realized that Sango was still screaming in pain.

 

“Please, Priestess, we don't know what's wrong! The bleeding won't stop and we cannot calm her!” Kagome ran to the bedside and grasped Sango's hand. Tears streaked Sango's red face and her teeth were clenched tightly shut.

 

“Sango, please! What's wrong? Tell me so I can help you!” she entreated of her dearest friend.

 

“It burns!” she rasped out. “Something inside of me is burning! It won't stop…” She grunted, a low long growl of pain, and Kagome shook with sadness and fear.

 

Her friend was going to die, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. There was only one sort of spell she knew of. She knew no healing spells. She didn't know if any even existed! But she knew one that would at least ease her friend's pain until…

 

“Sango…” she whispered, touching her friends forehead. “I'm…I'm so sorry…” Sango looked up at her, her eyes wide with fear. Kagome released her hand and placed both of her own on Sango's belly. She chanted softly to herself, and a glow covered her hands and seemed to seep into Sango. Kagome heard her friend gasp, then there was silence. The glow faded and she returned to her friend.

 

“Kagome…” Sango said, tears streaming down her face. “The baby….it's…”

 

“I know,” Kagome said, once again grabbing her friend's hand. Kagome turned, and saw Miroku standing in the doorway. Of course, he would have felt when she used her power, and he would know what the spell was. His eyes were wide with a dreadful sadness and disbelief. Kagome felt sick to her stomach, and fought against her body to keep from throwing up. She knew that she could not even imagine what Miroku must be feeling.

 

He ran to the opposite side of the bed, stumbling in his haste, and knelt. He grabbed Sango's hand, pressing it to his heart, and looked at Kagome. She could see that he read her like a book, and by the look of reaction in his eyes, she knew he understood he was losing Sango. He buried his head against her, pressing his face into the padding of the bed. There was a muffled cry, and Kagome could not hold back her tears.

 

Sango took her hand from Kagome, and placed it on her husbands head, cradling him against her.

 

“Miroku…” she said, struggling through her tears. “I'm so…so sorry… I'm sorry I could not give you your son!” He pushed even more into her, and there was another struggled cry. Kagome stood up and backed away. Though Sango was her friend, her companion, and somewhat of a mother, she knew she had no place here anymore. All she could do was watch.

 

“I'm…” Sango continued, her breathing becoming ragged. “I'm sorry I'm leaving you…” He finally looked up, his face red and lined with sadness and anger.

 

“Beloved,” he said, cupping her face with his hand. His other hand still held hers pressed to his heart. “Sango, if I could but join you…”

 

“You will not!” she cried, before coughing strongly. When her fit stopped, he leaned in and kissed her. Her hand touched his face and a tear fell from her tightly shut eye. When they parted she repeated herself. “You will not join me in death.” Her words were strong, though her voice was faint.

 

By this time, the midwives had left, and Kagome struggled within herself whether she should stay or leave. Sango's voice directed at her made her choice.

 

“Please, come here Kagome.” Kagome returned to the bedside as tears fell silently down her cheeks. “Kagome,” Sango began, gently touching her hair, “I want you to know…*cough*…that no matter what…I have loved you as if you had been a part of me.” Kagome broke down and fell against the bed. Sango gently pet her hair.

 

“Thank you, Kagome,” she continued, “For allowing me to die without pain…” She began coughing again, and this time, when her hand returned from her mouth, there was blood. She was panting now, and Miroku sat down on the bed, clutching her to him.

 

“I…I don't want to die…” Sango cried, clutching Miroku's robes. “I don't want to be the cause of such pain to you…” Kagome continued crying against the bed, but she could hear Sango's last words, even though her voice was growing faint.

 

“Miroku…” she rasped. “I am grateful, and have been every day of my life, to have someone like you love me…” His arms tightened around her. “I don't think I ever deserved someone like you…”

 

“No!” Now it was Miroku's turn to be stern. “It was I that never deserved you. You, an angel, blessed me by accepting me as your husband. Know that I never loved anyone before you, and never will again.” She coughed again, her hands shaking.

 

“Miroku…” she breathed out. And she did not breathe in again. Miroku buried his face intp her hair and wept. Kagome, too much in pain to remain, ran out of the room. She ran out of the house and into the street. Down the street and out of the village to the tree that Sango had shown her many times. She fell against it, pounding her fist into the bark, and sobbed until she had no tears left to cry. Her throat was sore with weeping, and her mind and spirit exhausted from the sadness. The sickness in her stomach finally overcame her and she wretched, emptying it, against the tree. Stumbling back and wiping her mouth, Kagome fell to her side onto the ground, convulsing with silent, tearless sobs, until unconsciousness offered an escape from the relentless, unspeakable pain that consumed her.

 

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It had been a week since the funeral, and it had seemed that life in the village had come to a screeching halt. She knew the rumors going around, and she knew what people were saying behind her back. How could the priestess let her die? It was almost too much to bear. But she also knew that she had it much better than Miroku. The pain seemed to be eating him from the inside out, and he was not like he was before. Somehow, she knew he never would be. She sat across from him now, at a large table in the shrine. He had called her to speak with her.

 

They had indeed spoken many times since Sango's passing. She had never been closer to her father figure and friend. They had shared tears and sorrows, as well as happy memories of the woman they had lost. He did not need to summon her in order to speak with her, but he had, and it had been an official summons, calling her from her work. The entire village knew of this meeting, and they were anxiously awaiting the news of its outcome.

 

Miroku was holding a small scroll that appeared to be some sort of message that had been sent to him. There were many such messages sent from villages in need of help against demons or other assistance of a spiritual kind. This was nothing new, but why would he have summoned her for something that had been a normal occurrence for years now?

 

“Kagome, I know that things have not been easy for you here, since Sango died,” he said softly, looking into her eyes with more warmth than she'd seen in all this passed week. So much so, that she could not keep his gaze, and looked down at her hands. “I have received a message, a particular request,” he continued. “It is from a woman called Kaede, and she is in need of someone to teach a small child in the ways of a priestess.” Kagome looked up at him.

 

“But that would take-”

 

“Years?” he finished for her. “Yes, indeed it would.” He sighed and stood slowly, making his way toward the window. “There is a monastery on the continent, a place I have been but once before, and I have sent them word of my coming.”

 

“No! You can't-”

 

“It has been done.” His voice was calm, yet firm, and he turned his face to hers. “The village has been safe for sometime Kagome, and I…” he paused, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. “…and I cannot stay here. It would be asking too much of me. And I must know that you are taken care of, and have a place that will be good for you. It is no longer good for you here, in the village.”

 

“But, so far!” she said, looking back down at her hands. Her vision was starting to blur with tears. This was all too sudden! Sango had only just died, and now she must lose Miroku as well? The only other friend she had in the world? “I will never see you again if you leave…I cannot let go of you…” she said softly, shutting her eyes against the pain.

 

“But I must let go of this place!” he said, crossing back to her. Kagome felt his hands on her shoulders, and she took in a deep breath. “There is nothing left for me here, in this land, and you are young and have a full life ahead of you. We would only remind each other of our grief.”

 

“But must I leave the village?” she asked in a whisper, her hand reaching up to grasp his on her shoulder.

 

“I have all ready written to this Kaede, informing her of your acceptance of her offer.” Now Kagome stood and faced him in shock. Miroku looked walked around the chair and embraced her, leaving a soft chaste kiss on her cheek. “I now give up any right I had over you as your guardian. You are an adult, you are strong, and you are wise.” He looked into her eyes. She stared back at those violet eyes that had calmed her and had offered Kagome her first taste of kindness and compassion. “You will be fine without me.”

 

“But you, Miroku, will you…” Kagome clung to him again. He indulged her and accepted her embrace, still speaking softly against her hair.

 

“I will be fine. I will devote my life to prayer, study, and...it pains me to say…celibacy.” Kagome pulled back and looked at him. “I will never love again, and I know that with my entire being. Sango was my allotted happiness in this short, pitiful existence that is my life.” He kissed her cheek again. “I will miss you dearly, Kagome. But I trust in your strength, and in your spirit. Your future holds tremendous promise.”

 

Kagome knew in her heart that there was no stopping this chain of events from happening, though she wanted so desperately to hold onto her life. Silently, she accepted it. She would miss Miroku terribly, though. He was her rock when she had been lost and scared, and now she would have to stand on her own two feet…once more…alone. Stealing herself against the future, she began to ask him questions.

 

“Where is this place I am to go?” she asked.

 

“I am led to believe that it is quite a large estate on the southern most tip of Japan,” he answered. “An estate called…Chibara. The young girl is only six years of age, and she has apparently shown signs of spiritual strength.”

 

“How did they know of me? Why not ask for someone closer?” she asked. They were in the north part of Japan…it was so far away.

 

“You do not understand, as I do, how magnificent your powers truly are,” he said, smiling softly. “Word has spread far of your talents, Kagome. You must go where you are needed, and you are no longer needed here.” Kagome nodded and folded her hands in front of her.

 

“Now, you must prepare for your departure. But first…” Miroku moved back to the other side of the table, taking up a small parchment and folding it gently, placing it into a leather pouch. “This is the direction to the monastery on the continent where I will be living out the rest of my life,” he said softly, holding it out to her. She took it. “If you ever need me, or wish to speak with me, do not hesitate to write.” Kagome nodded. “But only if it is necessary,” he added. “From the time you leave here, you are on your own. I have all the faith in the world that you will succeed.”

 

“Thank you…” Kagome said softly, a tear finally slipping from her eye. “Thank you, Miroku…for everything.” He took her hand and pressed it firmly.

 

“Thank you, Kagome…you know not what you have meant to me.” They embraced once more, a long embrace full of emotion and sadness, of fear and of parting. Kagome would leave within the week, and within another, Miroku would be thousands of miles away…

 

She knew she would never see him again.

 

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Kagome had traveled far, and the journey had been long and hard. At least she had a horse for her travels. She also did not have much to bring with her. She wore her priestess garb of white and red, with a black cloak to guard against wind and weather. She only had only two packs with her. One containing scrolls, herbs and a few other trinkets. The second pack contained her only other garment of clothing, a kimono given to her as a gift on her most recent birthday. A gift from Sango.

 

What little money she did have was almost gone, used up on food and lodging during her trip. She was tired, cold, and wet, the rain having seeped into her clothing and skin for the two hours. There was no shelter on the way, but she knew she was close. She was following the direction given to her both from Kaede's information as well as that of the last village she passed through. She came upon the top of a hill and gazed down. Lightening brightened up the dark sky, and below, in a beautiful valley, mountains to the on side and the sea to the other, stood the estate of Chibara.

 

Kagome had finally made it to her new home.

 

 

END OF CHAPTER

 

 

 

I'm so sorry! I love Sango too, but it had to happen. I had to stop twice while writing that section because it made me cry! I knew this was going to be the hard part of writing this story…there's lots of angst and drama…but I promise that soon there will be romance…soon! Please let me know how you found this chapter! And PLEASE don't hate me for what I've done!!! but still…all reviews, comments, critiques and criticisms are extremely welcome, and even needed. Thanks for reading!

 

~chosuki