InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Silver Winds ❯ Never Meant to Be ( Chapter 9 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

PROCLAIMER: I do not own Inuyasha or Kagome, or any of the fabulous others, they were created by Rumiko Takahashi, who, I don’t think, would ever legally give me control over her characters. But she does let me fiddle with them on the weekends, hehe.

A/n
Hey guys! It’s been so long, since august even. There’s no excuse for my absence really, just the slight of my hand since school has been keeping me busy. Honestly, things have been so hectic; they aren’t right now, (its rather dull really) so this seemed like the type of pause I needed to speed up my long halted stories and projects. Since this one is still of vast importance, I saw to it first.

Ladycash, I don’t want you to think I just forgot about you, because I didn’t. It was the type of situation where you really can’t do anything at the time, but I kept you in my mind and heart girl =) And this is mostly all for you too you know. Surprise Surprise! Hopefully this makes up for the months of away-ness ^_^
I’m not sure what to think of the outcome anymore, but this story will be finished one way or another. Patience young ones, and soon we will finish this together.

Read on~!
Seconds passed into minutes.

Minutes passed into hours.

Kagome’s breathing became ragged as the sun fell much too quickly beyond the distant skies. The afternoon had caught up with her, time drifting in spindles and waves, stretching and thinning before her mind. A crisp chill fell through the air now, stirring leaves beside her and bringing them up in a current of air. It smelled like fall, the subtle, earthy smell that came from the trees around her.

She stuck a finger into the dirt, desperately drawing circles in around themselves until the whole mess of dirt had been upset and scattered. Her other hand still clutched at her necklace, hard and stone like, as if she couldn’t breathe.

The others spotted her anxiety setting in upon her at least an hour after their playful tumbles, and yet, it seemed to come out differently. The very air around her seemed to twist with malevolence, stained with her anxious, but powerful heart. They didn’t talk to her, not knowing what the consequences would be, should they crush whatever hope she was holding on to. She still, unwaveringly, stared towards the empty horizon.

The thoughts still stirred within her. Why isn’t he here yet? Why hasn’t he come? I… how much longer can I wait…?

Her friends cluttered back at the picnic table, unsure of how to approach the girl. Miroku slid a directed glance towards Sango. “Sango, what should we do? Kagome is clearly upset, but… I can‘t think of a way to help.” Sango listened intently, her arm leaning against the wooden table, her eyes brooding. “If it has anything to do with Inuyasha, I’m afraid there is nothing we can do to help.”

Sango shook her head slowly, shifting into a position that stretched her muscles. “No, I don’t think there is anything we can do Miroku. I have a feeling there’s something she’s expecting…whether its to hear something from Inuyasha or not is something we don’t know.”

“One of us could go ask her…” his dark eyes flew to Sango’s with a desperate expression. “If there’s anything she has to tell, she would relent it to you.”

“That’s not fair, using any girls trust in me to get information for you.”

“But you wish to know too,” he interjected. “I know it may seem unfair but she really does value your company. Maybe she needs to talk to someone anyways.”

Sango fervently looked towards the girl, her small frame still curled by the tree, watching for something far away. Her hands fidgeted within themselves, until she finally stood, and walked with a slayers confidence to the edge of the hill. As she reached the tree, she crouched down, balancing on the tips of her feet.

She glanced over nervously. “Hey Kagome, did you want to--”

“No.”

The utterance was solid and firm, but not at all offensive. But the intensity surprised her, as Kagome was usually much more timid and expressive. When did she ever hear the girl say just one word at a time?

She swept her bangs out of the way, and maneuvered a bit closer, her eyes now a bit wide with surprise and curiosity. “Really Kagome, sometimes its better to talk about things. We’re like sisters, you kn--”

“Sisters…” the words fell out of Kagome’s mouth, a repeat, an echo of what the word really meant. The words fell upon her ears without meaning. “No.”

Sango stiffened. Her breathing quickened. “No? No what, Kagome?”

“We,” she indicated between the two of them, “should not be talking right now.”

“But wh--”
“No.”

Sango’s eyes flitted closed, and she stepped back, staggering as she retreated back to Miroku. He watched with careful eyes, seeming to have watched the entire engagement. “She…didn’t take it well then?”

Sango hid her face, her eyes heavy with an unknown feeling. They could have been tears. “I think… she just told me we’re not sisters.”

Miroku was clearly aware of the fact they were not blood sisters, but the fact that Kagome seemed to deny they were that close just seemed out of character. He pressed further. “Did she actually say that?”

Sango rolled her eyes. “She might as well have. I mean she--” her chest heaved a small breath, trying to control itself. “--there’s something wrong with her Miroku. She’s just being too… unlike herself. What could be wrong?”

Miroku pondered slowly. “I think I may have a theory.”

“What is it?” Sango’s eyes were on him in a moment.

“I believe that Inuyasha’s ‘betrayal’ may still be on her mind”

Sango eyed him speculatively. “You don’t think it’s something new?”

Miroku returned the gaze. “Well we didn’t exactly hear the whole story. What if the actual event was worse than we imagined? Inuyasha is not above using cruel words to hurt others.” Miroku finished with a sort of scowl that was supposed to show distaste.

Sango shook her head again. “I don’t think that’s it Miroku. It looks like she’s expecting something.” She cleared her voice, and her chocolate eyes sought his. “When Kagome and I met up again, we had a bit of a… spat. But we were talking and she was wondering where Inuyasha went.

“I only told her he’d gone off with Kikyo, but, it upset her more than I thought it would. And now she looks like she’s waiting. It makes sense doesn’t it? I think he told her something… or maybe he’s going to tell her something, and now she’s hoping he’ll come back. Doesn’t it fit Miroku?”

He dismissed the idea with his hand. “No matter what it means, we can’t speed up Inuyasha’s journey. We can only hope he gets here in time.”

“Yah,” Sango replied, her eyes tracing the outline of the small girl. “For his sake, and hers.”

The rest of the hour passed uneventfully, as children came and went, Kirara did the same, yet Kagome stayed fixed, solidly in place. The cold air distinctly around her gave everyone the creeps, as though she were powerful enough to impose her emotions on to the air around her.

Sango picked herbs, and walked the lengths of the city, while Miroku babysat the kids, or got away with a very short nap. The whole thing seemed surreal, as everything seemed to pass by her in blurs. Fast moving, uncontrollable blurs. They moved so fast, and left white noise wherever they went. She took the world in very slowly, unable to comprehend the questions directed at her, for they just sounded like waves of water, reaching out for her. She found solace in the noise, and continued her wait in solitude.

It wasn’t until the break of sunset that there was a very distinctive change.

“Story time!” Miroku bellowed with both hands around his mouth, while the Taijiya rolled her eyes and placed on a smile.

Kagome’s eyes widened as if she had been asleep, with one particular thought penetrating her brain. Book…

Slowly, as if numb or mechanical, she made her way to her backpack, seeking out the book with nimble hands. When her deft grasp found it, she paused to look at the space where they had all gathered. It was grassy and sweet, and the air was still quite warm. They huddled around a fire as they waited for the rest of the kids to join them. When had they made the fire?

There were light footsteps as she went over, and tapped the monks shoulder. He looked up expectantly. “Here,” she said, placing the book in his hands, feeling as if she had completed a great deed. Miroku’s eyes widened, as he looked to Kagome with a great smile. “Oh, this is fantastic Kagome! This is so old, wherever did you find it?”

Kagome rummaged through her thoughts, trying to remember. Her thoughts were still cloudy as if she was sleepy, or her mind was covered with a filmy, gray dust. Annoyed, she pushed away her sleepiness, and tried to remember. “I got it from a vender by the end of town.” She dusted her hands and looked down with light smile. “There’s no need to thank me.”

“Surely, as you say. Are you going to stay for the story?”

The thought struck her , and she wondered uncertainly. Should she? Would it make a difference? “I’m not sure I--”

“Come Kagome, it will be great fun!”

With some reluctance, she placed herself among the group. As if he had read it before, he opened the book. He explained to the kids that since it was a special day, the celebration of the Sun, he would read a special story.

He started the story, though spoiling a bit of it by giving a small synopsis. “What does star-crossed mean?” a little boy asked, recognizing the word as one Miroku had used to describe the two lovers of the story.

Miroku put on a hesitant smile, remembering this boy as the one who lacked warmth in his eyes. Fitting that he asked the question.

“It means…” he paused, gauging Kagome’s reaction. “…that these two lovers, were never meant to be.” Kagome’s awareness came to a keen edge as soon as she heard what he was saying, bringing her hands near her mouth. Miroku continued his explanation.
“In this story, the sun and the moon are star-crossed lovers, because no matter how much they could love each other… they can’t be. They are too different; and though when they work together, they make things better, they can’t be with each other. They both belong in two different places, day and night. Leaving one time of the day, would mean forfeiting, or abandoning the other. They must continue to act where they were supposed to be, or the world would fall for their mistakes.”

Kagome inexplicably excused herself, rushing away to the tree and hiding on the other side so the group couldn’t stare at her.

It was all so similar.

The story hit home to her because it was just like her own. Did this mean they would share the same ending? No matter what hope she had, did it mean she could never be with him again? They were too different…when they worked together, they made things better, they saved lives…but it still couldn’t justify it. They came from different times; the present, and the feudal era. If one of them left to be on the other side of the well, it would mean neglecting the world and the people they were leaving there.

Miroku’s final words came to her with clarity. They must continue to act where they were supposed to be, or the world would fall for their mistakes.

And then, it was at this moment, Kagome saw that the sun had gone down.

Something snapped.

In the space of a second, everything came bursting forth. Every single piece of herself that she had struggled to piece together shattered into a billion little pieces. She felt herself fall to her knees, her eyes desperate, hungry to see his being…

But he was nowhere. A cold rain fell upon them, and she heard soft murmurs as the others shuffled towards town, the only ones staying behind were friends and herself.

She fought to keep control, but every part of her cried out for death. She wished to be consumed, she wished to fall into nothingness, and scream until she could no longer feel herself. How could you…

She turned to the heavens with a cry. “How could I let myself believe you…?” she stumbled as she gripped her backpack. “How could I let myself believe..” she whispered, turning away, “…that you would keep your promises.”

With the speed of a frightened gazelle, she plunged into the forest, leaving the monk and taijiya screaming after her, their eyes wild with worry over her upset-ness. Sango let Hiraikotsu fall from her grasp as she ran after the girl, but she was too late.

Kagome didn’t feel anything after that. It was a blur as she tripped inside crying and prepared her things. She didn’t remember the packing, or the writing. She dug out her passport, and before she knew it, she was on a train just as it was boarding.

The train sped away into the rain, with a small teenage girl on its inside. She huddled into herself for warmth, and clutched at her coat in waiting. As her crying halted, the soft whispers kept going. Repeating and repeating until she fell asleep, “Not meant to be…Not meant to be…”


“Damnit, can’t these horses go any faster?!”

Inuyasha sat trapped on the road behind a group of nobleman’s horses, all headed down the southern road leading into Edo. He tapped his foot impatiently, and finally raised a claw to frighten the horses out of the way, when Kikyo halted his hand. She was riding atop a steed, but she had leaned over, and grabbed his hand as it tilted in the air. Her cold, fragile skin softened him, and he looked expectantly into her eyes. Hers were almost remorseful.

“Patience Inuyasha, you know it is considered a great offense if you pass in front of a noble on his way to another city.” Her voice sounded exhausted, as the last few days of travel had made them tired and thirsty. Inuyasha would have liked to yank his hand back, but he simply took it away gently. There were woods on either side of the road, so he could still get there fast enough…

He narrowed his eyes, and his face formed into a sneer. “I ain’t waitin’ for no nobles when Kagome’s waitin’ for ME.” He crouched low to the ground, his sleeves sinking into the dust, as his golden eyes were set to the north. Kikyo shook her head disapprovingly. “Take the horse Kikyo, and get to Kaede’s when you can. I’ll see you then.”

And with that, he was off.

He began a sprinting pace, for as soon as the nobles’ guards spotted him, they aimed their arrows and continued to shoot at him. Being nobles’ guards, their arrows were set with an explosive fire, but it did no good, as the hanyou was now into the trees. What kind of people fire at you for passing on the street? What a pompous ass… who the hell does he think he is?

He even thought about going back and teaching the guy in charge a lesson, (he had had to sit behind the guy twenty minutes already), but knowing Kagome wouldn’t approve, he headed towards the northern skies.

The hunt for Shippou was a bust. Not to say they didn’t get any more clues, they just hadn’t found the little hairball personally. A few days ago, word came about a fox demon stumbling into an old house he’d found that had been empty for ages. The place was said to be haunted though, and it apparently had a very dark and mysterious past. When he asked people about the house, no one answered him directly, hurrying away with the words “white assistant” under their breath. This made him wonder, what exactly attracted Shippou to a place like this; he knew it couldn’t have just been coincidence.

H didn’t look into it’s back story though, as he was searching for Shippou. They came to the house to find it only empty, though there were tell-tale marks of someone living here, and leaving hurriedly. Though the scurry marks indicated either lots of movement, or more people than just Shippou.

Regardless, at this point, it seemed that Shippou was avoiding them, for whenever they came his way, he had already skidaddled before they had shown up. He out maneuvered them, tricked them, and led them away from where he was really going. It was all so confusing, as it seemed he was going back into the direction of Kaede’s village…but he was trying to go around them to get there. Just what was he trying to do?

Inuyasha kicked unsteadily on each tree, the cold wind whipping his face, running continually, bounding and leaping across the forests edges and trees. It was only hours later that he realized it was getting dark, and he cursed at himself, running at near impossible speeds until he finally broke the line of sight for the village. It had started raining a few minutes ago, and it only made him want to get inside more, though he had to talk to Kaede before he went off to see Kagome.

As he landed, feet first into the mud, his hair seemed to change, until it fell into a pitch black hue. Darkness was upon him now. Not wanting Kikyo to catch up and see him like this, he started into town, hoping to talk to the others before he went off.

He strutted into Kaede’s hut, soaking from head to toe.

“Oi, Kaede, tell the others I’m going off to see Kagome, ok?”

Kaede seemed puzzled, and put aside something she had in her hand. Her eye was stirring with a deep knowledge, but confusion wound about her like a tight string, and he couldn’t tell why. “Inuyasha,” she said, kneeling down onto the floor. Her hair shimmered with light water, like his did. Her eyes were tight. “Kagome was already here, was she not?”

A pressing dread suddenly filled him. She had come to see him? But he didn’t smell her at all… he should have smelt her even if he was a few miles away, even if his powers were waning, or if it was raining. If she had left…

Inuyasha’s face quickly fell. “Oh, no, no, no, no, no…” he sank a bit, thinking hard about everything around him. He stared up. “Kaede, tell me she’s still here.”

She shook her head sadly, and turned away. “I know not Inuyasha, I have not seen her since the afternoon.”

With a meaningful quickness he raced out to the fields where he knew she would have waited. The rain was mild and the air was cool, but the thunder clapped, and lightning lit up the skies. It was under this canvas that he found Miroku and Sango still standing by the forests. He ran to them, but once he met there eyes, a truth was shared instantly. Still, he had to ask.

“She…” he faltered a bit. “Is she still here?”

Sango looked away with a failed expression, not seeing the ground beneath her, even as she stared at it. Her voice was soft. “No.”

It sounded the exact same way Kagome had said it, soft and firm. It cooled her lips in the summer rain, the winds and thunder shaking the earth and spinning the fields. The grass shuffled underneath them.

Inuyasha stared dumbfounded at her, not wanting to take it as an answer. He raised an un-clawed hand to her, as if in explanation. “What? Tell me what happened.”

“No,” she repeated, same and strong as the last one. She hiccupped. “We,” she indicated between the two of them, “should not be talking right now.” She uttered the last words in tears, before she suddenly fled into the night, Kirara by her side.

Inuyasha turned to Miroku, who refused to look him in the eyes. Inuyasha’s golden eyes smoldered, his dog ears drooping as he slid forward. “Sango… she knew… it was my fault, didn’t she?” It wasn’t a question.

Miroku didn’t answer, only turning away, back towards to the village, the winds rough against his skin. His dark eyes dipped into his own, as he said without another word, “Fix it.”

Miroku stumbled away, headlong in the wind, while Inuyasha stood there with a lost look on his face. He couldn’t think any further on it, so simply, he ran to the well, and jumped to the other side. As he landed in the soil of the future well, he felt the dirt under him was damp; it meant Kagome must have passed here at some point. So it was true…

He got out, running forward and as fast as he could, crossed the distance between the well house and the main house, closing the door behind him. The inside was chaos.

On the inside, Kagome’s grandfather was running around wildly, while he saw young Souta squatting down and crying. The smell of tears was… too strong in this house. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but he ran to the living room, where he saw a woman, sitting by the side in a daze. It was Kagome’s mom.

She sat, disheveled but still, on the edge of the couch, watching the phone on the table, with the same intensity that it would have taken to probably set it on fire.

“Hey…”

She looked up quickly, but her face softened upon seeing it was him, and she rested her head in her hands, looking like a sleepless child. He walked a little closer.

“I was gonna go see Kagome, but you guys all look…” he paused, looking her over, and scoffing. “…really messed up.”

She tried to manage a laugh, and he took that as a cue to leave. As he went upstairs, she stopped him there, with just a few words. “She’s not here, you know.”

He looked at her strangely. It was a repulsive, rebuking look. “What?”

“She’s not here.” she repeated.

This was not what he was expecting. Had she gone to the store? Did he have to go all around town to catch her? “What? Is she at a friends or something?”

Her mother laughed a mirthless laugh, one which caught him off guard, and had him feeling with a bad anticipation. She looked down sadly. “Not quite.”

There was a feeling of expectancy in the air as he waited for her to elaborate, but when she didn’t, he returned to the couch, irritated. His eyes were fiery. “Where is she then?”

“I don’t know.”

What? He looked down confused. What kind of answer was that?

She let out a cool sigh, and turned to him. Her eyes were fill with an immeasurable amount of love; motherly love he realized. It was a feeling that shocked him, as she smiled uncertainly, and turned away for a moment. She took a card from the side, and handed it to him, hurried scribbling mashed over its side. It was just a simple piece of paper, but its message was from Kagome. He read it, slowly, cautiously, aloud.


He paused, his voice suddenly grew sad, as he kept reading, his eyes looking softly defeated.


It caught off for a second, as if she had been crying. The rest was less hurried.


He bit his tongue…


The letter ended, and Inuyasha looked up, horrified and astounded. Tears trickled from his eyes, even though his face didn’t show the pain.

“She’s gone…?”

The silence answered him, and he smashed the table in front of him in furious tears.
“No…”

He looked up to the heavens and let out a heart-ending scream that echoed all the pain in the world.

“KAGOME, NOOO!”




A/n
So yes, it’s a bit anti-climactic, but I gotta say, I didn’t make the ending as dramatically as I used to. Anyways, so yes, I WILL be continually busy during the year, but I believe I can now actually sit down and be able to do these again. But I’ll get to it when the creative juices are flowing =)

Hugs and kisses to all a’ ya. Happy new year!
If it feels good for you, write a review!