InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sesshomarus Revenge ❯ Of Necessary Seperation and Resultant Sadness ( Chapter 12 )

 

Of Necessary Separation and Resultant Sadness

 

 

When Kagome was sure that her friends were recovering from their injuries, she knew she had to make the trip through the well to her own time. Not only did she need to get more medical supplies, she also knew she had been gone too long this time. She had had her reasons for staying away, she had thought. But now it was time to face the inevitable. So she said her good-byes and promised to be back as soon as possible. They had all put on brave faces as they watched her go, not wanting to betray their sadness at her departure.

 

If Kagome's family noticed a change in her, they did not remark on it. They all just exclaimed about how happy they were to see her, and chastised her for staying away so long this time. Her Grandfather seemed quite pleased with the latest illness he had thought up for her, meningitis of the brain. Kagome's jaw dropped when she heard this one, now everyone at school would think she had brain damage! Although she was in her last year of high school, she just did not know if she could face her friends after he told such a story. Just the idea of the looks she would receive until graduation made her cringe.

 

After the first humiliating day back at school Kagome started to become exasperated. As she feared her friends treated her as if she were retarded. They were overly solicitous, and treated her like a child in need of guidance. It was all she could do to get them to leave her alone to go to the library each day. She did not want them to see which books she was looking at or they would have been stunned. Every day she pulled books from the shelves on subjects like victim's stories on recovering from rape, psychological help for rape victims, and pregnancy. When she found some books she thought would be helpful, she would take them out, unable to meet the eyes of the librarian who checked them out for her. Once in her book bag she would take them home and transfer them to the pack she was bringing back to the feudal era.

 

One night in her room she admitted to herself that she was worrying more and more about her friends and lover back on the other side of the well. She missed them terribly. It had gotten so she felt she belonged there more then here in her own time. She was a stranger to her family and friends, now more than ever with the secrets she was keeping from them.

 

Those Kagome had left behind missed her also. As they struggled with their inner battles and outer wounds, they felt the void left where Kagome's gentle touch and comforting words of encouragement used to be.

 

Since the incident in the forest, Shippou had become more subdued. He didn't bother his older friends and protectors with any more questions, but decided instead to just learn more from observation. He was resigned to let understanding come to him in time. But it was still hard on him with Kagome gone.

 

“When is she coming back?” He whined at Inu-Yasha one night.

 

“Stop being such a baby,” he growled, “she's only been gone a few days.”

 

“Feels like forever,” he said sadly, kicking at the ground under the tree where the hanyou sat.

 

Inu-Yasha glanced morosely at the downcast expression on the kitsunes face.

 

“Hmph,” he grunted, and looked away, crossing his arms.

 

With a sigh Shippou left, and Inu-Yasha was alone to dwell on his own sense of emptiness at Kagome's absence. Just when their relationship seemed to be repairing itself, she had to leave. When she had stated her intention of going back and gave her reasons, he had supported her. He wasn't one to show weakness if her could help it. It also gave him a reprieve from the hopeful, expectant look on her face since the incident in the forest. Although she never brought it up again, he knew she was waiting, getting more and more curious to hear his version of what happened to him there. He had to admit to himself that he was afraid of what might happen between them if he told her the truth. The thought that it might create a rift between them was too painful to contemplate. So instead he did nothing, and ached inside with anxiety.

 

Sango and Miroku were becoming closer every day. They were discovering that the bond between them that they thought had been severed was still there. With Kagome, her confidant gone, Sango found herself opening up to Miroku about her trauma. He held her gingerly, both mindful of his broken ribs, and listened sympathetically to her. When overcome with feelings of desolation and despair, he would dry her tears. Not once did he criticize her pain or try and tell her how to feel. Instinctively he knew that the best thing he could offer her in this situation were comfort, understanding and support.

 

Still, Sango missed Kagome. They shared a bond born out of a shared horrific experience that no amount of Miroku's love could touch. She was the only other person who knew exactly what she was feeling.

 

“Sango, I can see you miss Kagome,” said Miroku on this night as they sat by the fire in Kaede's house.

 

“Am I that transparent?” She asked.

 

Miroku chuckled softly.

 

`No, it's just I've become more perceptive, because I love you.”

 

The earnest look on his face as he said this made Sango smile. This newly risen side to her monk never ceased to amaze her.

 

“Maybe we should send Inu-Yasha through the well to bring her back.” He said.

 

“We all agreed that it was okay for her to return,” she said, “don't you think we'll make her feel guilty for going back if we send him after her?”

 

“I know you're probably right,” conceded Miroku, “it's just that Inu-Yasha and Shippou's sulking is beginning to get on my nerves.”

 

At that moment Shippou returned and plopped himself down across the fire from them.

 

“So where's Inu-Yasha?” asked Sango.

 

“I think he's going to spend another night out in that tree again,” he said, “I think he just wants to be the first one to see Kagome when she gets back.”

 

Sango and Miroku gave each other meaningful looks. They were both thinking the same thing at that moment.

 

“Let it wait until morning,” said Sango to Miroku, “then go talk to Inu-Yasha.”

 

Miroku woke just at dawn. Sango, Shippou and Kirara all still slept around him. His ribs were bothering him, and he realized that he probably could not get back to sleep. Throwing on his outer robes and grabbing his staff, he decided to go find Inu-Yasha.

 

The hanyou sat snoring in the same tall tree he had fled to, just as Shippou had said. Miroku looked around on the ground for a small stone. He found one that he liked and threw it at Inu-Yasha, beaning him on the head.

 

“Ow!” said the hanyou, waking up with a start, “what did you do that for you stupid monk?”

 

“You're the one who's stupid, sulking out here every night,” laughed Miroku. “Sango and I think it's a good idea for you to go see Kagome and find out when she is coming back.”

 

“You do?” he replied, “don't you think we'd be acting prematurely? She's only been gone a few days.”

 

“All I know is I have two friends and one lover who have been going around with long faces and denying that it is because Kagome isn't here.”

 

“Feh!” said Inu-Yasha, scowling, “fine then. I'll leave now.”

 

With a tremendous leap, Inu-Yasha became a blur of red and silver. Fleetingly Miroku wondered if they were doing the right thing, as he watched the hanyou quickly disappear from sight. But he secretly believed that Kagome was probably missing Inu-Yasha as much as he missed her.

 

A/N: Yes, I'm back to updating this story. I'll try to continue to update this and any other Inu-Yasha fics the muse inspires me to go back to until around the weekend of August 15, 2003. I'm due to give birth on 8/19, so don't expect much from me for a while after that.