InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Bliss of Nights Forgotten ❯ A Friend's Comfort ( Chapter 14 )

By: EvilNekoEatsYourSoul

Last time: It's settled then, we leave for the well tomorrow morning.

`But more importantly, back home.' Thought Kagome, `Mama, Souta, Jiichan I miss you all so much!' the thought of her true home and family helped to ease the pain in her heart, although nothing could erase it. She was sure it would be there for a very long time.

Chapter 14: A Friend's Comfort

~*~

They all stood in the courtyard watching the two people in the center who tried to avoid eye contact with one another. Both seemed to have much to say yet silence lay heavy on all inhabitants of the area. Kagome's friends strained their ears to catch anything that would be said. Not wanting the awkward moment continue, Kagome was the first to speak.

"I will tell Kaede-sama to expect Rin in a few months. She should do well there, she's a very bright girl. If she has the patience she will make a great miko." The demon lord nodded, his face void of any emotion.

"Well then, we'll be leaving now. Arigatou Sesshoumaru." Stiffly, the raven-haired miko turned away from him. At his side, Rin was sniffling. As Kagome began to walk away the little girl called out to her.

"Kagome-sensei! Please don't leave… Rin wants you to stay." The sound of the girl's voice stopped her footsteps. She took a steadying breath and spoke over her shoulder.

"I can't Rin, I don't belong here." Just as Rin was about to reply her guardian spoke.

"Rin, be quiet." Obediently, she closed her mouth and watched as Kagome walked towards the exit.

Eyeing his half-brother warily, Inuyasha followed closely behind Kagome through the gates of the castle.

Outside of the castle walls, Kagome felt the curious glances of her friends on her back. Now was just as good a time as any to tell them what had happened.

"Walk beside me, and I'll tell you guys everything that's happened."

~*~

With the castle absent of any guests it was quiet and peaceful once again. The servants went about their usual chores and Rin was left to herself. Since Kagome's arrival the young girl had become used to spending her days with the company of her teacher and during his two-day stay she had befriended Shippou. Now with everyone gone and Jaken busy with some trivial task she decided to spend the morning with her Sesshoumaru-sama.

At the moment, the youkai was just sitting silently at a desk reading various scrolls and writing things down. Rin sat across from him, silently drawing pictures with some crayons Shippou had left with her. A soft growl came from her guardian and she looked up to find him sitting back on his chair staring at the wall across the room and tapping a claw against the desk. While continuing to draw Rin began to talk.

"Rin is bored… are you bored Sesshoumaru-sama?"

The youkai nodded absently, not really hearing what the girl said.

"Rin is also hungry… Is Sesshoumaru-sama hungry too?"

Again, she received a nod so she continued.

"Rin is lonely… are you lonely too Sesshoumaru-sama?"

His eyes never left the wall and he answered her with another nod.

"Sesshoumaru-sama can Rin draw on this?" she said, holding up one of the ancient scrolls he had been reading.

Only half hearing her, he gave his consent by nodding and waving a claw in her direction.

Frowning slightly at the way she was being ignored, she stood to leave the distracted youkai alone. But before she left she asked one more question.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin misses Kagome-sensei… do you miss her as well?"

Upon hearing the recently departed miko's name, he took his attention away from the wall and looked sternly at the little girl.

"Rin, don't be foolish, I'm busy right now. Go find Jaken and tell him to take you outside to pick flowers."

For once she didn't seem happy at the mention of picking flowers. But never one to disobey her Sesshoumaru-sama she left the room with her shoulders slumped and a look of defeat on her young face.

~*~

"So it's true then," the taijiya said, looking intently at her friend. "you and Sesshoumaru…"

Kagome nodded solemnly, confirming Sangos' words. Telling the story along with all the details (well, maybe not all the details…) and her theories on what had occurred had taken most of the morning. Looking to her left, she saw a lecherous grin on Miroku's face, next to him Inuyasha's gaze roamed the forest looking at anything but her. To her right there was Sango who had a slight blush on her face. Next to her Yukiko stood, looking at the ground as they walked. Shippou was sleeping on Kirara's back, the fire cat walked a few yards ahead of them.

There was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before Inuyasha stopped in his tracks and began sniffing at the air. Almost in unison, the rest of the group stopped and turned to look at the hanyou.

"I smell a youkai up ahead, maybe you guys should go check on Shippou and Kirara." The half demon looked intently at Miroku as he spoke.

Seeming to catch the message, the houshi took advantage of the situation and grabbed both Sango and Yukiko's hands and ran ahead.

"Don't worry Kagome! We'll take care of it." He shouted over his shoulder as he and the two young women hurried away.

As she turned to question Inuyasha on his odd behavior, the look in his eyes stopped her. It was rare for him to look at her with the expression currently on his face. So serious, so determined and caring that the words she had been ready to say were quickly swallowed.

"That's not all that happened though, is it?" he questioned, taking a step towards her. "If that was all, you wouldn't have left him, and yesterday, something happened between you two that upset you."

It was true, she had left those parts out of her story. She never told her friends what had happened between Sesshoumaru and her to make them part, it was something she didn't want to think about.

"I… I don't know what you're talking about Inuyasha… I just miss my family, that's why I was so upset yesterday."

The look in his eyes told her he wasn't convinced and he took another step towards her forcing her to step backwards.

"Don't lie to me Kagome, I can see it in your eyes. You're hiding some thing, I could feel it this morning when you and he were talking. Something happened, you can tell me, I'm your friend trust me."

She felt the tears coming and knew there was no way to stop them. Even though she had promised herself to lock away those emotions and memories, Inuyasha's words were forcing them to surface. To forget them would be much easier than to live with the heart wrenching pain they brought.

"No, Inuyasha… I… I can't it hurts too much. Please… just leave me alone." She pressed her hands against her chest, as if she thought by applying pressure there the hurt would stop. When she moved to lower her hands she found that she was not able to do so, they were pinned between Inuyasha and herself. The hanyou held her in a gentle, comforting embrace that made her feel guilty for her lack of honesty.

"Do you remember when this all started? How I hated people when you first broke Kikyou's seal?" Resting her head against his chest, she nodded and listened to his words.

"A lot has changed since then, not just with Naraku or the youkai, but with me. I have changed. That day, over fifty years ago now, I thought I would despise humans forever. But then you came and freed me. Not only did you free me, but you also allowed me to avenge Kikyou and most of all, you taught me to care again. You talked to me even when I wanted nothing to do with you, you got me to open up when I would have closed the doors to the world. You taught me that it's okay to have weaknesses and that talking about things can make you feel better."

New tears formed in Kagome's eyes, but these were not caused by pain or sadness. These tears were cleansing, Inuyasha's words had brought a sense of peace over her that had been missing in the hectic weeks that had passed. She was overwhelmed by the fact that she had made such an impact on him.

Releasing her, the hanyou took a step back and looked into her eyes, a sheepish grin on his face.

"Now, you baka, tell me what's bothering you."

~*~

The only sounds in the empty halls were the soft humming of a lonely child and the pacing footsteps of the castle's owner. Three days had passed since the miko and her friends had departed and for three days everyone in the vicinity had been on edge. Constantly, the Lord of the Western Lands paced, never stopping to rest or eat. The only one who dared speak to him was the young human girl and even she had been unusually silent.

Warily, Sesshoumaru's faithful servant Jaken watched his master pace the length of the room. Even he knew better then to question the cause of his master's sudden restlessness. So he had decided to sit and wait for any order's he might be given.

`This is all the fault of that wretched miko! She has done something to anger Sesshoumaru-sama. Surely he is thinking of a way to rid the world of her most unworthy presence.' The toad youkai's thoughts were interrupted by Sesshoumaru's voice.

"Jaken, I am going to patrol the borders"

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama I will fetch Rin right away." Jaken stood to go and make the preparations for the journey.

"No, you and Rin stay here. I will go alone."

Before the green skinned servant could make a reply Sesshoumaru had left the room and was headed for the castle gates.

~*~

"She's a very smart girl, I don't think you'll have any problems with her Kaede-bachan."

"I'm sure I won't" the old miko replied, "I trust your judgment Kagome."

With that taken care of, Kagome turned to the rest of her friends.

"Will you come back soon Kagome?" Anxiously, Shippou hopped into her arms as he asked his question.

"I don't know Shippou. I've been gone from my time for a while now, I'm sure I'll have a lot of catching up to do. But I'll come back as soon as I can."

She handed the kitsune to Sango before addressing the demon slayer.

"Sango, please look after Yukiko. Since you know the situation, it's very important that you keep an eye on her."

"I'll help with that also!" The houshi said, reaching a hand out towards Yukiko. But before he knew it, Hiraikotsu had connected with his skull and he was now seeing stars. Smiling at the familiar antics of her friends, Kagome said her good-byes.

Walking out the door she turned to Inuyasha, "Don't worry about me, I'll walk to the well on my own."

Nodding, the hanyou turned his head away and gave her a `fey'

Finally out of the door, Kagome was able to let out a sigh of relief. More than anything right now, she needed a break from the Sengoku Jidai. Just when she had thought her adventure was finished, another situation required her help. `It never ends' she thought.

There was a gentle breeze blowing through the forest and Kagome was thankful for the silence surrounding her. In a way, going through the well and back to her own time seemed like a solution to the ache which still lingered in her heart. Although talking to Inuyasha had helped her, she knew the feeling would never go away. She was only thankful that it no longer threatened to suffocate her with its intensity.

Carried by her thoughts, her feet moved swiftly and soon she could see the well ahead of her. She stopped a few feet before it, smiling sadly.

`This is it, once I go through the well I will do my best to keep my thoughts from him… Oh, Kami! It hurts to even think his name… Sesshoumaru… in my mind this is truly the end of everything we had.'

She took another step towards the well, but before her foot touched the ground two arms encircled her shoulders and held her in place. The breeze blew her own raven locks before her eyes, but entwined with the dark tresses were beautiful silver strands that shone in the light.

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