InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Therapy ❯ Chapter Thirteen ( Chapter 13 )

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Author's Notes: There, I got out an update in a reasonable amount of time! Aren't you all proud of me? And I'm glad you all thought the last chapter was okay, because I'll admit I was a bit nervous when I posted it.

I love how this story is starting to write itself, and I'm just acting as the emissary between my mind and my fingers on the keyboard. It's a wonderful feeling, and I hope I continue to please.

Thanks so much for your wonderful feedback, as always it means the world to me. I don't write for reviews, but all the same it is a wonderful gift to read them. And those of you who have given me constructive criticism about minor issues, I appreciate that too. So, thank you all!

In this chapter we delve a little more into the minds of our favorite couple, aka what exactly is going on in their minds now that the first real confrontation has occurred. A lot of you are wanting to know why I had Kagome not tell Inuyasha what Kikyou had told her, and here is my reasoning: Kagome felt obliged to keep Kikyou's secret after the woman confided in her. She feels it's not her place to tell Inuyasha what is going on with his wife, but that he should hear it from the source instead.

And as for Kikyou not telling him yet, I want one thing understood. I'm not making her out to be a `player' of any kind, and if any of you feel that way that is not my intention. She used to love Inuyasha completely, for her entire high school life. Realizing that their love is fading is not easy, and so she is trying to make sure that is what's going on before ending their relationship. Give her time, she'll come around, and poor Inuyasha won't be kept in the dark much longer.

I'll stop babbling now, but I wanted to explain myself to you all so that you could understand MY reasoning behind that last scene in chapter twelve. Okay, now that's over, let's get on with the show! Enjoy!

 

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Title: Soul Therapy

 

Author: dolphingirl0113

 

Chapter: Thirteen

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

 

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“What do you mean, she's on vacation?” Inuyasha had a look of such confusion that Sango wished, for at least the thousandth time, that Kagome had not left it to her to tell him.

 

“I mean exactly that; she went in to see your brother yesterday about cashing in on the two weeks vacation she is owed, and he agreed.”

 

“Two weeks?” Inuyasha felt his world crumble around him, because he knew why she had left.

 

Sango gave the man a hard look, leaning on his crutches and generally looking like a puppy that had just lost its master. If he had ears, they would be drooping down against his head.

 

“Inuyasha, did something happen between you two?”

 

“Why do you ask?” His voice was monotone, and it didn't take a genius to see that the man was completely depressed.

 

Recalling the way Kagome had walked into work with slumped shoulders, not saying a word to anyone save their boss, and then leaving, Sango sighed. “Because she seemed pretty upset. And while I plan on visiting her and asking what it was all about, I was wondering if maybe you could give me a heads up.”

 

Inuyasha recalled the kiss, the way her lips had trembled beneath his, the way the moment had been wrapped in a magic he had never known before to exist. “I think she should tell you.”

 

Sango let out an exasperated sigh and threw her hands into the air. “Whatever, you two are impossible.”

 

Moving to his side, she started to help him over to the two bars for walking practice, but Inuyasha remained firmly rooted to the ground. “What are you doing?”

 

“I'm your therapist today, is that a problem?”

 

Inuyasha sighed. Sango was nice, but she wasn't Kagome. And for some reason, he just couldn't do therapy without her.

 

“No offense to you,” he began slowly, trying not to sound too harsh, “But I think I'll just stop coming until Kagome's back.”

 

“She won't be happy about that.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Before she left she gave me strict instructions not to let you miss your therapy sessions.”

 

A smile graced his lips despite himself, and Inuyasha found it only added to the pain in his chest. Even now, after everything that had happened, she still wanted him to be taken care of.

 

“Then maybe you can tell me where she went so I can go tell her myself why I can't do therapy unless she is here?”

 

Sango shook her head. “Not a chance, I swore I wouldn't say a word, and I intend to keep my promise.”

 

With a frustrated sigh, Inuyasha turned away, mumbling something about stubborn females. Sango raised an eyebrow. “What was that?”

 

He turned with an annoyed expression. “I'm going up to see my brother.”

 

“Fine by me,” Sango replied, feeling her irritation grow. How did Kagome put up with someone like him three times a week?

 

The thought of her friend caused Sango to furrow her brow in concern. She had never seen Kagome look so depressed before, the girl normally always had a smile on her face. So what was going on?

 

Judging by the look on Inuyasha's face, it had something to do with the two of them, or maybe even three, since Kikyou would be involved. Either way, Sango didn't like it, because it was ruining her friend's perky personality.

 

“Hey Inuyasha, what's up? Here for more torture?” Miroku called cheerfully as Inuyasha slowly made his way toward the elevator.

 

“Shut up, monk, and mind your own business.”

 

“Sheesh, whatever you say.” His grin still in place, Miroku made his way over to where Sango was still standing beside the bars, his face showing that he wanted to ask a question.

 

“If you're wanting to know why he's acting that way, or why Kagome suddenly took vacation when she has never even been out sick before, the answer is I don't know,” she spoke quickly. Miroku chuckled.

 

“Actually, I was just wondering why you all still insist on calling me monk. I haven't gone home for ages, and my grandfather doesn't come around anymore to visit and pray for the patients.”

 

Sango chuckled at the memory of Miroku's grandfather, an old man with tiny eyes who would insist on coming down from his temple home to pray for the patients and try to convince Miroku to return to the `family business'.

 

“I guess old habits just die hard,” she replied casually, trying to ignore the fact that his presence was causing her heart rate to increase, the sound of his voice vibrating in her chest.

 

“Sure,” he rolled his eyes, and then smiled, “But since you brought up the topic of Kagome and Inuyasha, what do you think is going on?”

 

Sango shrugged her shoulders. “I don't know, but I intend to find out when I go and visit her tomorrow.”

 

“So she told you where she went?”

 

“Where else would she go?”

 

“True.” He seemed to think for a minute. “Then I'll come with you. Kagome's my friend as much as she is yours, and we should be there to support her with whatever is going on.”

 

Sango felt her eyes soften as she looked at the handsome man beside her, meeting his warm brown eyes. “That's so thoughtful of you, Miroku.”

 

He smiled. “What can I say, I'm a thoughtful person.”

 

She smiled, but felt it instantly fade away when she felt an unwanted pressure on her backside. A loud smack throughout the clinic was enough to alert Kouga and Ayame to the fact that their lecherous friend had done it again.

 

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“Sesshoumaru, we need to talk.”

 

The business lord looked up from where he was lounging in his leather chair, and Rin glanced up from the book she was reading on the opposite couch.

 

“It's nice to see you too, little brother,” he stated calmly, his voice somewhat mocking. He watched in satisfaction as Inuyasha tensed, taking offense. That's what he got for barging into his office unannounced.

 

“Oh stop it you two,” Rin exclaimed, rising to her feet, and Inuyasha couldn't help but soften his gaze slightly at the sight of his kind sister-in-law, the only person on the planet capable of bringing a genuine smile to his brother's face.

 

She walked up and kissed him lightly on the cheek before returning to her seat. “It's good to see you, Inuyasha. And how is Kikyou? Well, I hope?”

 

Inuyasha opened his mouth to speak, but Sesshoumaru beat him to it. “Save your breath, Rin, something tells me Kikyou has been the last thing on Inuyasha's mind these past few weeks.”

 

His face turned red at the implication, but Inuyasha raised his head high, unwilling to let the insult affect him. “Why did Kagome ask for vacation time?”

 

“Kagome?” Rin looked up once more from her book. “That nice girl who was in here yesterday?”

 

Neither man answered, instead staring at each other. Sesshoumaru spoke first. “I should think you could tell me, Inuyasha. She came in looking quite distressed and practically begged me to release her for her two weeks of vacation time.” He narrowed his eyes. “What did you do to her?”

 

“What did I do to her? What the hell does that mean?”

 

“Don't play dumb with me, or insult my intelligence. I know you care about her, I could see it at the fundraiser, and it's obvious she cares about you, considering she was in here advocating for you to be supported upon your return to medical school.”

 

“What?” Kagome hadn't told him about that. Inuyasha felt himself only become more irritated. “I didn't ask her to do that.”

 

“Of course you didn't which only proves my point: she cares about you. So I ask again, what did you do?”

 

“Why is it that I have to have done something? It could have been her.” Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow haughtily.

 

“Knowing you, I doubt that.”

 

This conversation was getting him nowhere, and only managing to irk his temper even more, so Inuyasha decided to take a more direct approach. “Fine, if you wont tell me why she left, can you at least tell me where she has gone?”

 

He watched his older brother seem to contemplate his request for several seconds, in which time Inuyasha imagined himself hurling one of his crutches at Sesshoumaru's face. Finally, the older man took a deep breath and spread his hands out over the desk before him.

 

“Tell me what's going on between you two, and I'll tell you where she went.” Inuyasha opened his mouth to protest, but Sesshoumaru put up his hand for silence. “No argument, Inuyasha, that is how it will be. If one of my best therapists is going to storm out of here upset, then I have a right to know why.”

 

Inuyasha slumped his shoulders in frustration, not wanting to share anything that had transpired between him and Kagome. It was personal, and something he was still trying to figure out for himself.

 

Rin, who had been somewhat forgotten amidst the heated discussion, stood up and walked over to her brother-in-law, moving in front of him so that she was looking directly into his eyes, the same eyes as her husband. She didn't have to look long to get her answer, and gasped.

 

“Oh my, you're in love with her.”

 

Hearing it said aloud was like a bucket of ice water being poured over his head, and Inuyasha felt his body jolt in surprise. But when he opened his mouth to dispel the comment, no words came out.

 

“Is that true Inuyasha?” Sesshoumaru leaned forward, surprise in his eyes, though the rest of his face remained stoic.

 

His face red with embarrassment, Inuyasha looked away from Rin, toward the window. “I don't know what I feel any more.”

 

It wasn't an all out declaration, but it was enough for the older man to see that his wife was correct, and so Sesshoumaru nodded his head twice before leaning back in his chair once more. “Very well. Kagome went to her old home, the Higurashi Shrine near the outskirts of Tokyo.”

 

Inuyasha silently nodded his head and turned to leave without so much as a thanks. But he didn't have to say it. Sesshoumaru already knew.

 

“Wow,” Rin commented once the door was closed and they were alone, “I never saw that one coming.”

 

Sesshoumaru sighed. “I'm afraid I did, ever since that night at the fundraiser when my brother didn't care in the least that his wife was in the arms of another man the entire evening, because he was so focused on Kagome.”

 

Rin came over and put her hands on her husband's tense shoulders. “So what are we going to do about it? This is more then just business now, Sesshoumaru, this is a family matter.”

 

“I know.” He massaged his temples, feeling a flash of annoyance at his brother's stupidity. They had all warned him against marrying Kikyou when they were both so young, but he hadn't listened. And now they were all paying the price, including Kagome. “I guess we'll just have to hope there aren't too many broken hearts that come out of this.”

 

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The feel of the broom in her hands as she steadily swept the courtyard clear of leaves and dirt was relaxing for Kagome. It was something steady and consistent, which her life was not at the moment.

 

She had come home two days ago, without much thought to what she wanted to do after that, but knowing she needed to get away from work for a while. Or, more honestly, knowing she needed to get away from him.

 

But it wasn't just him. It was the whole situation, with Kikyou, and Naraku, and herself. It was all too complicated for her, someone who was so used to a normal, uncomplicated life that lacked drama, but in a good way. She just needed to get back to what she had known growing up, and so she had come home.

 

Her mother hadn't asked any questions, just knowing her daughter needed privacy, for which Kagome was grateful. Her room was just the way she remembered it, with the pink bedspread and white counters. And her priestess robes were still in the closet, along with her bow and arrows.

 

Since her brother Souta had graduated from high school and was now attending Tokyo University with the intention of being a drum major, the shrine was quiet, with just herself, her mother, and her grandfather to occupy it.

 

Donning the red and white robes of a priestess, Kagome had easily fallen back into the routine of her old life, before it became complicated, and for a while she was able to pretend that nothing had changed, and that she wasn't right in the middle of a dissolving marriage and in love with Inuyasha.

 

“Kagome?” she looked over to see her mother standing in the doorway, dressed in her usual skirt and sweater.

 

“Yes?”

 

“How about we go and practice your archery for a while? I think you'll find you're a bit rusty.”

 

The idea of holding her bow again, the smooth wooden surface in her hands, caused her to smile, and Kagome found herself nodding with a bright smile. “Okay.”

 

The practice range was still the same, targets having been painted onto several of the surrounding trees, and Kagome found she felt right at home as she notched her first arrow. She loosed it, and the air was filled with a soft halo of light before the arrow lodged itself in the tree. It was far off of the bull's eye, but Kagome didn't care so long as she was practicing at all.

 

“It might be far off the mark,” Mrs. Higurashi commented softly, “But I see you haven't lost the ability to use the power of the purity arrow. Your grandfather will be pleased to hear that.”

 

Kagome beamed under the compliment, and turned to face her mother, who was smiling that warm smile she always adopted when either of her children were near. “Mama, thank you.”

 

“For what, sweetheart?”

 

“For just letting me come home for a while, and not asking questions.”

 

Mrs. Higurashi smiled at her daughter lovingly, and touched her cheek. “I know what it is like to be a woman with many troubles. In fact, before I married your father I carried an expression just like yours, though I'm sure it was for different reasons.”

 

“And you don't mind not knowing?”

 

“I know that you will tell me if you need to, and I trust my daughter to make the right decisions when it comes to her own life.”

 

Kagome smiled and allowed herself to be pulled into a warm embrace. Even after her father had died three years ago, Kagome admired how her mother continued to be strong and happy.

 

The day went on in a lazy, but peaceful manner, with a few visitors, mostly tourists, stopping by to see the ancient shrine and comment on the beautiful priestess caring for it. Kagome smiled when she heard the comments, tempted to correct them and say that her presence was only temporary, but then deciding against it, not wanting to ruin the image they were seeing of a young woman guarding the holy ground like in ancient times.

 

As the sun began to set, and the sky turned red, Kagome found herself walking over to the old tree that was considered sacred to her family, the Goshinboku. It was an old friend, one that both she and her mother, and all the women in the Higurashi family throughout the years, had confided in, and so it was a tree with many secrets, which was comforting.

 

“Hi,” she began nervously, kneeling down and bowing her head respectfully before looking up. “It's been a long time, I know, and I'm sorry. But now I'm back, and you'll get to hear about my latest crisis.”

 

A slight wind blew through the air, rustling the leaves and the branches, and Kagome almost felt like Goshinboku was telling her to continue. She smiled, and relaxed.

 

“Do you think it's true, that there is only one person in the world who can inspire within us true love?” Kagome frowned. “I'm not sure what to believe any more. I thought I knew what was right and wrong, where the line was drawn, but now everything's gone gray, and I can't even see into my own heart.”

 

A few birds chirped, and Kagome smiled, though it was a sad expression. “I know that technically it's wrong to even look twice at a married man, let alone lo-” She stopped, a small gasp escaping her lips.

 

Kagome realized then that her heart had known it all along, but her mind had just been a little slow to catch on. She had been fighting it off, she suddenly came to understand, for Kikyou's sake, but after that kiss in the park, she couldn't deny it any longer.

 

“I love him,” she whispered, and again the branches rustled, as though in agreement. She looked up, and felt tears in her eyes. “But I don't want to. Why do I have to love a man I can't have? Why do I have to love the man who is bound to my cousin, who loves my cousin?” She looked away.

 

“He may have kissed me,” she commented, touching her lips, “But I still can't be sure if he was kissing me or Kikyou. I know who I was kissing, but was he with me or someone else that evening?”

 

She was answered by silence, which in this case only caused her irritation. Standing up, she threw herself against Goshinboku, pummeling the trunk several times before pulling back to see her knuckles bruised and bloodied. But it was worth it, because she had no other way to express her pain.

 

She was tired of crying all the time, and it felt good for once to hit something real, something material, and feel the physical pain on her hands. At least that was a pain she could heal with bandages and salves.

 

“But what about my heart?” she whimpered, falling against the tree as though she were a child longing for the embrace of an elder. “What salve is there for my heart?”

 

Looking up into the ancient branches of the tree, she sighed. “I want to love him, and yet I don't. I want to be with him, and yet I don't because that will mean the pain of another woman.” She pulled back. “But then, Kikyou doesn't really know what she wants either, because she is seeing Naraku. So I guess that means we're all just in one tangled mess, doesn't it?”

 

The question drifted off on a silent wind, rustling her hair, and Kagome almost felt like fingers were combing through her ebony locks in a gentle caress. The thought caused her to smile.

 

“Thank you, old friend,” she whispered, bowing her head once more. Her mother's words came back to her, and she smiled. “I guess all I can do now is follow my heart.”