InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Standing the Test of Time ❯ Chapter Twelve ( Chapter 12 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 12: Where are we going?

“Shippo, you’re going to have speed up if you want to get stronger!” Inuyasha called as he sped through the forest, the scenery only a blur of colors as he dodged obstacles and continued running.

“Inuyasha! I’m not as fast as you! I’m just a...OOF!” Shippo yelled as he stumbled and lost his balance, sending him crashing and rolling to the ground. Inuyasha stopped and went to the fallen youngster.

Towering over Shippo as he sat, sulking, on the cold dirt, Inuyasha sighed. “You’re not a ‘kid’ any more. You’re growing up and it’s my job to make sure that you get stronger as you grow. Even if that means taking a tumble every now and then.” Inuyasha gave Shippo a half smile and held his hand out to Shippo, who took it gratefully and brought himself back to his feet and dusted himself off.

“Thanks, Inuyasha. Hey, you ever think we’ll see her again?” Shippo asked, meaning Kagome as ‘her’. Since the well sealed over a year ago, no one really spoke Kagome’s name and they rarely spoke of Aiko’s death because it reminded them of the two people they loved the most and lost.

“Feh, I don’t know. If you keep your wits about you, maybe you’ll live to see her time and find her for me, but I doubt that’ll I see her again in my life time.” Inuyasha said with a scowl. “But who knows what life will give us the next time around. Maybe we’re just destined to only find each other as we move from one life to another, but we’re not meant to be together, that I’ve seen.” Inuyasha patted the top of Shippo’s head and sighed heavily.

Shippo’s heart fell to his knees to hear Inuyasha sound so broken and hopeless. Shippo wanted to see Kagome again, but he wanted to see Kagome with Inuyasha even more. “Well, then let’s get back to running. Maybe if you make yourself stronger, you’ll live long enough to prove fate wrong and be with her again. I know fate isn’t so cruel to take you two away from each other three times in a life time.”

“Twice.” Inuyasha corrected.

“No, three. First Kikyou, I know it was fated for her demise so Kagome could be born and given to us and then when the well first sealed and then last year...” Shippo realized not only had he reopened up old wounds, but was pouring large amounts of salt into them as he spoke. “I’m sorry” was all he said.

“It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt as much anymore, talking about Kikyou.” Inuyasha said. “But you’re right, let’s get back to running. I’m already watching your leg muscles deteriorate.” With that, Inuyasha turned on his heals and bolted off like a shot.

“Inuyasha! Come on! My legs still aren’t as long as yours!” Shippo wined as he took off after the hanyou.

The two ran through the forest and never slowed their pace as they exited the woods and flew across an open field, scaring a few of the villagers and their oxen as the two ran past. Inuyasha couldn’t help but laugh as he watched the faces of the surprised villagers, but Shippo felt guilty and called out “Sorry! Training!” behind him as they disappeared out of sight. Their feet pounded on the ground as they neared the village and Inuyasha slowed to a walk, and Shippo was extremely happy for the new change of pace, slow.

“Let’s go see Miroku and Sango. It’s been a few days and I bet Sango would like the company.” Inuyasha said. The past few weeks, Sango had lost that spark in her eye and fell ill. She had her good days, but they were outnumbered by bad days. Sango spent most of her days either in bed or sitting in a corner, reading or crying. Her world had been torn apart after the departure of her daughter and best friend and she grieved hard.

“Yea, that would be nice. We’ve been working out so hard, we barely get to see them any more, huh?” Shippo commented, suddenly feeling guilty for not being around as much as he should for his grieving friends.

As they came to Miroku and Sango’s hut, Inuyasha could smell the rich smell of burning sage. His face twisted in confusion as did Shippo’s. ‘Why in the world would they be burning sage? We haven’t had any demon attacks for a long time’, Inuyasha questioned himself. They hesitantly entered the hut and as Inuyasha was about to say ‘hey all’, he saw the reason for the burning sage and froze in place.

Miroku was bent over Sango in prayer and softly crying. Sango appeared to be sleeping, but her features and scent said other wise. Her face had grey tones around the eyes and lips and her jaw had gone slightly slack. Her hands laid relaxed on her chest that had stilled in death. Shippo took in the sight and gulped hard. Even her hair was lifeless. The smell of death mingled with the burning sage, but it’s presence well known.

“Miroku?” Was all Inuyasha could get out.

“She passed this morning, in her sleep. She is happier now, I know. She has found Aiko and they’re both smiling down on us from the heavens. Inuyasha, I’m sorry I didn’t send for you, but Sango asked that her death not be a burden to you or Shippo.” Miroku said, his eyes never leaving his love.

“I’m sorry, buddy.” Inuyasha said.

“This isn’t fair!” Shippo burst out causing the two occupants of the room to look at him. “I mean, it’s not like we all met under the best of circumstances. We had all suffered some kind of tragedy that brought us all together. We were all we had left in the world, you, Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango, Kagome. I felt like we were always a family, strange, but a pack none-the-less. Then Kagome was taken from us, but we were given Aiko and just when our family was going to be complete again with the return of Kagome, they were both taken. And now Sango!” Shippo broke and started crying. “Are you two going to die on me too!”

That statement made both men gulp and look each other in the eye. Poor Shippo, being immortal wasn’t something Shippo had quite grasped yet. Although he was a young adult, he was still young and death still a foreign concept. How was Inuyasha to explain that even if Miroku and Inuyasha were to live to old age, Shippo would still have to say good bye at a relatively young age.

“Shippo, will you walk with me?” Inuyasha said in an almost ‘fatherly’ tone. Shippo nodded and they left, but not with out a prayer for Sango first.

“Did you want to say something?” Shippo asked as they walked through the forest.

“I know that it’s been pretty hard, these past several months. And you’re right, it isn’t fair. But I’ve been doing a lot of thinking myself and our conversation today has had me thinking all the more.” Inuyasha started.

“Yea? What about?” Shippo asked.

“Well, life in general. Shippo, listen. You have to understand that at some point, in the future, our time will come and for humans, that time comes sooner than Demons. As you know, hanyou’s don’t live as long as demons as well.”

“What are you trying to say? I know Miroku and you will die before me. I’m not that ignorant. I just wish things don’t have to be that way.” Shippo said.

“What, you’d rather we all die on the same death bed, holding hands?” Inuyasha asked and gave a small laugh.

“No. That is a bit extreme, isn’t it?” Shippo laughed a bit himself. “I’m just afraid.”

“Afraid of what?” Inuyasha asked, surprised.

“That you will leave me alone, without any one left, who will I love? Who will I call ‘family’?”

“That is a tough question. Shippo, you’ll one day have a family of your own and they’ll remind you of all the loved ones you’ve lost in your life and when that time comes, you’ll be able to look back on these days and smile at happier times. I promise you, you’ll never be alone, the same way I have.” Inuyasha’s voice broke at the thought of Shippo one day finding a mate and starting a family. The same family Inuyasha wished for Kagome and himself.

“Thank you Inuyasha.” Shippo said with a lump in his throat. Never had Inuyasha been so, poetic, so ‘fatherly’. ‘I guess when you’ve lost as much as he has, you tend to grow up a lot.’ Shippo thought to himself.

Inuyasha stopped dead in his tracks in the middle of a clearing and was staring off into the distance. Shippo stopped and looked at Inuyasha then to were he was staring. The well sat only a few feet from were they stood and it looked menacing. The grass had grown tall around the old wooden structure and moss had started to form on the edge of the well’s old walls.

Shippo walked up to the well, bent over the edge, and peered down the black opening. “Hello!” Shippo called down and smiled when the well returned his call. Shippo looked back at Inuyasha, then back down the well. “Kagome! I miss you!” Shippo leaned in to hear the response. “I miss you, miss you” was what was returned, as if it could have been Kagome herself.

“That’s interesting. What made you think of doing that?” Inuyasha asked.

“When I was younger, before Aiko was born, I use to come here to sit and think. I’d yell into the well because it made me feel better and sometimes I could almost hear Kagome’s voice calling ‘I love you’, or ‘I miss you’. And you know what? It really did help. I guess I didn’t come back here that much after Aiko was born, so I’ve almost forgotten about that little trick.” Shippo explained.

“I see. You know kid, you’re more grown up than I thought.” Inuyasha said.

“Thanks. Inuyasha, I’m going home and relaxing. My legs are killing me, you can stay here if you’d like. I’m sure Miroku’s going to have a funeral for Sango tomorrow, so we should get to bed early.” Shippo said and bound off for the hut Inuyasha shared with him.

Inuyasha sank to the ground, with his back to the well, letting the memories take him to happier times, when they were younger. The thought had never occurred to them that they could be separated the way they had been. Shippo had been right, though. It seems that the biggest tragedies in their lives are what brought them together. No, it was really Kagome that had brought them together as a group. She was never quick to judge a person on first impressions and she always brought out the best in people. Inuyasha knew she had brought out the best in him. If left to his own devices, he would have become a mindless demon years ago, but here he sat, a hanyou. Not human, nor demon and at the same time, both. He had strength beyond human capability, he felt passionately. He now had compassion for others where as before, he would knock a human down and keep walking away.

“Kagome, I love you” Inuyasha whispered into the well and when the well returned “I love you”, Inuyasha smiled softly and left with those words in his heart and returned home.

“Inuyasha. I miss you.” A now healed Kagome whispered into the well. She leaned on the edge and said a silent prayer for her friends on the other side. She was, of course, unaware of current affairs on the other side. Even though Kagome swore to move on, a piece of her was still held back and unable to move on.

“Kagome! Where are you?” A man’s voice called from outside. “We’re going to be late!”

“Coming Hojo!” Kagome called and hurried outside the well house. The past year had also brought a change in life for Kagome. She and Hojo spent a lot of time together and after Hojo took over his family’s practice, he hired Kagome on as his pediatrician and she loved her job. She thought working in the er would be fun, but found out different. It was very demanding on body and soul and became emotionally draining for Kagome. But helping sick and injured kids is what brought joy to Kagome now. She loved using the phrase “every thing will be okay, just wait and see” because she was usually right.

Kagome was now living with Hojo in his apartment that was attached to his practice. Hojo had also gotten into his dream job. He had developed some of the most advanced cancer research in the world. They were looking at hormones in fish as a possible source for cancer treatment and were seeing great improvement in their lab rats.

Hojo and Kagome came off as being a great couple. Hojo felt strongly for Kagome and Kagome, although not returning his affections in full, had feelings for him too. His positive out look and good nature were a big plus and very desirable in a man, but Kagome knew there was something still missing. But for the most part, Kagome was content and that’s all she could ask for out of life.

“They won’t hold the reservations for very long, so let’s hurry to the restaurant.” Hojo said as Kagome hurried over to him.

“Leaving so soon, Kagome?” Kagome’s grandfather asked.

“Yea, I just wanted to come by for a little while, and you know, visit.” Kagome said.

“Sure, well, you two have a good night.”

“Thanks gramps, you too. I love you!” Kagome called to her grandfather as Hojo hurried her away.

“Love you too, Kagome.” Her grandfather replied with a smile on his face.

..:End of Chappy:..