InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Stream of Consciousness: A LiveJournal Collection ❯ A Solemn Memory ( Chapter 17 )

Title: A Solemn Memory

Community: Challenge Destiny (edficlets)

Theme: Valor

Place Earned: 1st

Genre: Angst

Rating: PG-13

Word count: 595

Warnings: language

 

 

A Solemn Memory

 

“What's wrong, Inuyasha?” Kagome asked, plopping down by his side near the campfire. He had been acting strangely ever since they departed the unfamiliar village this morning. Inuyasha didn't react, merely continuing to stare pensively ahead. Kagome sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping at once again being shut out. Why can't he ever open up to me?

 

“That infant,” the hanyou suddenly rasped as if answering her silent plea. Kagome frowned in confusion until her memory caught up with her, and she recalled the misshapen baby the innkeeper's wife had carried. Congenital defects had left the tiny face a hopeless mess, and Kagome felt immense sympathy for the child, knowing it would never live a normal life. At least the babe's parents still loved him.

 

“What about him?” she inquired curiously, trying not to sound too excited. Inuyasha was actually talking to her, and she didn't want to blow it by being pushy.

 

“He…reminded me of something.” A long pause ensued, but Kagome held her tongue. If she wanted him to share his past with her, she needed to let him come to that decision on his own. Her patience paid off.

 

“I found him about a year or two after my mother died. He was lying in the forest, bawling his head off. He was probably only a week old, and somebody left him out in the woods to die…” he finished with a growl, before shaking his head and muttering a few choice obscenities under his breath. “His face…his face was worse than the one we saw today. That's why they abandoned him. I tried to take care of him, but I was just a runt myself. I didn't know anything about babies. Hell, I didn't even know milk comes from breasts! I tried feeding him all sorts of shit, but he wouldn't eat. Then I tried leaving him with human families, but those fucking bastards just put him out in the woods again!” He was seething now, the damn on his long-buried emotions finally bursting. “So I stayed with him, even though his crying made my head feel like it was gonna explode. Then, one day he just…stopped… I buried him under a sakura tree. At least he didn't die alone.”

 

Kagome simply sat by his side, miserable tears flowing freely down her cheeks. That poor little thing…and poor Inuyasha…

 

“What the hell are you crying for, wench?” he demanded, though his tone lacked its normal bite. When she peered at his face she could see why; his eyes shone with moisture though he had not yet allowed the tears to fall. Unable to stop herself, she flung her arms around his neck and embraced him tightly. Relief flooded her when he didn't push her away, but wrapped his arms loosely around her and awkwardly stroked her back.

 

“I'm sorry,” she said, pulling away and drying her eyes. “It's just so sad…and you were so brave.”

 

“Keh—wait, what? Brave?” She nodded. “How the fuck was I brave?”

 

“Helping those nobody else wants to…that's true valor.”

 

“You would know,” Inuyasha replied quietly, earning him a puzzled look from Kagome. “Helping those nobody else wants to?” he repeated, motioning to himself.

 

“Oh!” Kagome exclaimed in understanding, her eyes softening as she gazed at him. Cuddling up to his side, she grabbed his hand. “I want to help you, Inuyasha. I…I want to stay by your side.”

 

Inuyasha looped his arm around her and held her close. And you have no idea how much that means to me, Kagome. Maybe…maybe I won't die alone, either.