InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Tenseiga ❯ A Close Distant Tragedy ( Chapter 1 )

Kagome laughed softly as she watched Shippou play with Kirara. This was one of the reasons she did not want to leave. Shippou was her son and she loved him more dearly than her own life. She could feel Inuyasha watching her and wondered what the hanyou was thinking. She doubted he would try to take the jewel she now wore around her neck. She reached up and touched it automatically. So much heartache, so much pain, and all for what? This silly trinket she now wore as though it were the most precious thing on Earth.

Naraku was dead, Kagura free, and Kikyou had finally returned to death where she belonged. She had given up her semblance of life when she finally realized that Kagome was the one destined to guard the jewel. Her parting words were simple and yet complex.

"Love him as I could not."

But she couldn't. She loved him, yes, but not the way Kikyou wanted her to. Kagome felt a sigh build in her chest, but she forced it away, knowing that all three would hear it and worry about her. They had all begun to worry about her a lot lately. She refused to go home, even after her fights with Inuyasha she remained. She couldn't tell them. She wouldn't tell them. She would spare them that heartache if she could. Slowly she rose and stretched. Shippou bounded over.

"Dinner?"

"Hai. Come on, let's get the others."

Shippou leapt up on her shoulder as she began to walk through the forest. Inuyasha leapt out of the tree and fell into step with her. They walked in silence for a time before he finally spoke.

"What's happened?"

She turned a cheery smile on him. "What do you mean?"

"To your family. I know something has happened. Now either you tell me, or I'll go to the other side and find out."

Her smile faltered and finally slipped off her face. "They're dead."

He stopped dead in his tracks, a look of sheer horror on his face. "All of them? Souta?"

She too stopped. Her smile returned, sad beyond reckoning. She looked over her shoulder at him. "Hai. All of them. There was a break-in, a robber. He gathered them all together in the living room, and shot them one at a time. By the time I got home they'd been dead for almost a week by then."

Inuyasha watched her as she continued walking. Shippou clung to her, too shocked to think of something to say. They entered the village and he watched his mother smile and wave at the greetings called to her. He climbed down as she entered Kaede's hut. Kagome began to prepare dinner. He could only imagine the kind of strength and courage required to simply keep going after something like that. True he had watched as his parents died, but he had also watched as Kagome and Inuyasha had avenged them. What would it be like to have to keep going never knowing if the killer had been caught and punished?

Sango and Miroku entered, and from their looks, Shippou guessed Inuyasha had told them, but to their credit, they said nothing. Kaede picked up on the somber mood of the meal and did not attempt to draw them into speaking. She understood that some wounds needed nothing more than time to heal. Late that evening, Inuyasha watched as Kagome walked out of the hut and into the forest. She sat at the foot of the God Tree.

"All right, Inuyasha, I know you've been wanting to talk. Come on down here."

He jumped down, landing gracefully and arranged himself on the ground at her side. "Kagome?"

"Hai."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She looked over at him and gently drew him into her arms. She knew he would never cry, he was too much of a man for that, but he could mourn, and he would allow her to comfort him.

"I know you loved them. I'm sorry, I was being selfish."

"No, I should have…I should have protected them."

"No, Inuyasha, this was not your fault. If I had been there I would be dead too. In a way you saved me by forcing me to be here that night. Remember? I wanted to go home so badly, but you wouldn't let me. You saved me, brother. I will never let you forget that."

"Brother?"

"Hai. I love you Inuyasha. Kikyou wanted me to love you as she did, but I cannot. Can you forgive me?"

He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a light squeeze. "I know of nothing to forgive."