InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Shin no Kakera ❯ Maboroshi ( Chapter 1 )

Title: Maboroshi (Illusion)

Theme: #10 Just A Memory

Rating: PG (K+)

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Summary: “I will continue to live when you're not here.”

Notes: Not beta-d and contains implied character death. Written for the LJ 30 Hugs challenge

 

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She dropped the worn-out novel into her lap to stretch against the trunk, head lifted to gaze into the thick branches high above.

 

She stayed that way for a while, just watching the mosaic of dark and light greens flicker in the filtered light. Her soft eyes lingered on the clusters of fragile pink blossoms scattered generously across the boughs. Their sweet scent permeated the spring air around her.

 

Suddenly, it became too painful to look up. Her gaze opted to rest on a grassy patch nearby.

 

“It's already been a year huh?” She whispered to the wind as she patted the ground underneath her affectionately. Her thick tresses shrouded her eyes and the only thing visible was a gentle smile playing on her lips.

 

“Have you ever seen the Goshinboku flower like this?”

 

A light giggle escaped her even though she hadn't thought it possible. The thought of teasing him about smelling pretty and his would-be retort was too amusing despite everything.

 

But her mirth soon dissolved and her lips quivered as tears began to fall on her lap. Abruptly, she whipped around and wrapped her arms tightly around the trunk. Her embrace barely surrounded a quarter of it, but she proceeded to hug the wood closer anyway. She nuzzled her cheek against the rough bark, nose buried within a wide crack, inhaling the woody scent of the tree.

 

Her eyes were squeezed shut and for a precious moment she lived in a memory. It was not hard wood against her body, but strong arms that held her protectively against a muscled torso. It was not coarse bark that scraped her cheek, but fuzzy red fur that warmed her skin. It was not the scent of sap that flooded her senses, but the earthy masculine smell that only belonged to him. For a second in time, she was lost once more in his deep voice rumbling beside her ear and his hot breath fanning her neck.

 

She hastily scrambled up, retrieved the discarded book nearby and reached up to graze the scar on the tree's trunk lovingly in parting.

 

At the front of the house, she turned back for one more look at the tree. And she fancied seeing a ghostly red-clad figure lounging lazily on a leafy bough, not at all misplaced amongst the blossoms.

 

She smiled and shook her head

 

The tree was healthy and gorgeous… as it should be, nourished by the ashes of such a strong boy beneath its roots.