InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Cruelty of Fate ❯ The Aftermath ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: All Inuyasha characters and recognisable settings are property of Rumiko Takahashi. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

 

Fate

 

The word seemed to have appeared unconsciously upon a notebook. It was such a simple four letter word, but it had the power to control her entire existence.

 

FATE, Fate FAte

 

Fate FATE fate fate Fate

Fate Fate

Fate Fate FATE

 

She sat at her large school desk in the cramped classroom of thirty seats. The lights remained off and the stormy atmosphere outside offered little light. This left the classroom quite barren in sound and appearance. She continually scribbled the word upon the notebook as her mind wandered through unwanted thoughts.

 

“I want to be with him”

 

Her hands rested on the side of the well and she peered into the darkness bellow. She pushed all of her weight into her hands as if it would give some kind of signal. She checked the well every few days, hoping Inuyasha would appear at the bottom. It had been three years since the last day they had seen each other and they hadn't even had a proper goodbye. Kagome had done everything to protect the future of the world beyond the well but it still left her behind.

 

“I-I want to be with Inuyasha…”

 

A tear fell into the well, landing with a faint splash, a sound incoherent to human ears. The young girls grip upon the well tightened. Letting go could take away any hope of finding him. How could this have happened? She had worked so hard to be with him and they had gone through so much together. She had sacrificed her entire life to destroy the jewel and save the world, but now that it was finished the past had no use for her. The feudal era had cast her out, pulling her heart with it.

 

“I-I want…”

 

A hand touched Kagome's shoulder, triggering an eruption of hope. It was him, he had come, he was here and she would finally get what she so greatly disserved. After all this time of waiting he was right here all along.

 

“Kagome dear, won't you come inside. You have been sitting here for quite some time.”

 

Fate. The terrible word that controlled everything. Fate pulled at Kagome's soul, ripping hope away. Her body crumbled and her tears fell continuously. The soft noise of her tears echoed within the well and a low rumble flowed into the ground bellow, unsettling the earth.

 

Kagome's mother wrapped her arms around her distressed child. These were not the arms Kagome had so desperately needed. Ms. Higurashi did not speak, but only held her, trying to provide some comfort in those last terrible moments. She knew there was nothing she could do for Kagome.

 

FATE Fate Fate Fate

Fate FATE fate

 

“Uhm…”

 

Kagomes head snapped upwards, her gaze adjusting to the new lighting. Twenty-Nine students sat at their desks, staring nervously back at Kagome. One student stood quite frozen near the light switch.

 

“Mrs. Hateshi…” The young teenage boy said slowly. “Are we starting yet?”

 

Kagome stood abruptly, trying to refocus her thoughts on the classroom. She couldn't even remember what she had chosen to teach for this Monday morning. “How long have you been here?”

 

“About 5 minutes or so…”

 

“Oh. Sorry about that I was just…. I'm not used to such an early morning.” Kagome laughed a little bit as her hands gathered her notes. A few students laughed calmly with her, releasing a bit of the tension in the room.

 

“Alright,” Kagome turned towards the chalk board and began writing down her name “As you all probably know from last year my name is Mrs. Hateshi and I will be your history teacher this year.”

 

She continued to write down a few jot notes on common historical terms from feudal Japan. “We will start this semester with the Feudal era. Who can tell me when the Feudal era began?”

 

A few students slowly raised their hands. Kagome picked a young boy at the back who seemed to stand out from the others, his hair was a vibrant red, unlike every other dark haired student in the class. “Yes?”

 

“Was it somewhere around the 12th century?”

 

“Yes you are absolutely correct” Kagome then looked back to the board and jotted down the new note. “Alright, now what were some main events that took place within the feudal era?” She then turned towards the class and looked through the few hands raised.

 

Her eyes automatically went to the red headed boy at the back of the class, but this time there was something different. Kagome could swear she could see a shadow of a large puffy tail waving back and forth behind the boy.

 

“F-fox demon...” Kagome mumbled. Right after the word was uttered a tail appeared behind the creature, but it disappeared before anyone else had a chance to see it. Kagome fell silent, staring at the child.

 

The class began to fidget, whispering back and forth and slowly lowering their hands.

 

Kagome moved towards the door. “I-I'm going to go get a glass of water. You can all get acquainted with one another…”

 

She left the classroom with no one around to watch it, and was immediately spotted by two vice principals walking in the hallway.

 

“Mrs. Hateshi where are you going? Aren't you teaching right now?” A female vice principal stated, walking towards the dazed woman.

 

“I guess I am…” Kagome said as if in a daze. It was right now that she realized she had forgotten to eat breakfast and was starting to get dizzy. “I just needed to get some air. The first days of school are always very stressful.”

 

The male principal lifted Kagome's right arm to provide support. It was obvious to the principals that Kagome was not well. “Mrs. Hateshi I think you should follow me to the office. Mrs. Maoru can you look after her class until she is back?”

 

The female principle nodded and headed off towards the class. Before Kagome could even comprehend what was happening she was sitting in a large comfortable chair in front of Mr. Gensoku, the principal of the high school. He was speaking to her about something, but nothing was registering in Kagomes mind.

 

There was a long pause, as if he expected her to say something, Kagome's mind slowly moved back towards reality as she realized he was looking for a reply.

 

“I'm sorry Mr Gensoku, I am just… Well I really am not in a clear state of mind right now” Her hands began to fidget as she tried to release some of the tension within her body and mind.

 

“I understand this must be a hard time for you Mrs. Hateshi, especially because of your mother's current condition. It was brave of you to suggest coming in to teach at the beginning of the year but it isn't necessary if you are in such a state. You can take a bit of time off to regain your bearings if you would like.”

 

Kagome had grasped most of what Mr. Gensoku had been saying and she nodded slowly. “Yes I think that would be best too. Thank you Mr. Gensoku.”

 

The principle gave his most sympathetic smile. “Don't mention it Mrs. Hateshi. I will get someone to cover your class until you are fit to return.”

 

 

stood, shook the principles hand and left the room. The first thing she thought of doing was going to the hospital Kagome sat within a large waiting room writing in her notebook. The walls that surrounded her were faded pastels, and the chair was quite uncomfortable. Kagome's nose was filled with the pungent scent of death and antibiotics.

 

She lifted her hand for a moment and sneezed into her small notebook. `I hate hospitals'

 

“Kagome Hateshi?”

 

Kagome looked up to see a nurse calling her name. “Yes?”

 

“Your mother is ready to see you now.”

 

Kagome stood slowly and walked down the hallway and into her mother's room. The hospital room was full of flowers and framed pictures, all given to her by Kagome and the family. The decorations and gifts attempted to mask the morbid hospital feel, but the essence of death was still strong within the room.

 

Kagome sat on a chair beside her mother. Her stomach lurched for a moment, a feeling she had grown all too familiar with in the past three days. The familiar beeping from Mrs. Higurashi's heart monitor echoed in the back of Kagome's mind. Any change in the never ending tempo would send Kagomes mind reeling with desperate thoughts. Such a simple beeping noise could tell whether a person was alive or dead.

 

“I..”

 

Kagome gave her complete attention to her mother, who had only uttered a single letter.

 

“I think Souta… came to see me this morning.” The frail woman spoke so softly as if adding more volume would take away her last bit of strength.

 

Kagome nodded. “Yes he did Mom. He said he was going to visit before school today. That kid is so busy these days it's hard to keep track. He also told me he got an A on his first paper.”

 

“Oh well that's wonderful.”

 

“Mhm”

 

There was a long moment of silence. Kagome began to rub her fingers over a small locket. It was the locket she had made for Inuyasha during their adventures together. She thought back to the day of her mothers car crash. The fear and depression of that day had carried on within her body ever since.

 

“Have they found him mom?”

 

“What do you mean?” Kagomes mother looked up towards the ceiling, she couldn't turn her head to face her daughter because her body was in so much pain.

 

“Did they find the person who did it? The person who caused the crash?”

 

“I don't think so… Someone is stopping by to ask me about it later.”

 

Kagome leaned upon the metal railing on her mother's bed. “Really? Should I stay or-”

 

“No Kagome, you have too much going on at home with Sango…”

 

Kagome nodded, but Mrs. Higurashi could see that her daughter wasn't enthusiastic about going home. “Yeah I don't think I would be able to find anyone to babysit.”

 

“Kagome… do you still think of… Inuyasha?”

 

Kagome was taken aback by the forward statement. Kagome and her mother hadn't spoken of Inuyasha since she had broken down in front of the well seven years ago. Hearing his name made Kagome's body stiff and her mind swim with haunting thoughts of the past.

 

“Where did that come from? It's been so long-I-I mean I'm married now. I'm working. I have a life. I have a normal life and he isn't part of it.” Kagome thought about how harsh her statement was. Did she really believe it herself? There really wasn't a day that went by without her thinking of him or feudal Japan. She taught history on a daily basis and was constantly brought back to that time. “So I guess what I am trying to say is no. I don't think of him.”

 

“Then why are you so distant from your new family? Whenever I mention them I can feel… nothing from you. You don't even hold Satoru's hand when I'm around, let alone kiss him.”

 

“Well it's not like I chose to be with him. It was grandpa's idea.” Kagome was now taken aback by her own statement. She did have a choice to marry him. She had liked him at the time and her Grandfather had just suggested the idea because he was a family friend. “I mean. I do care for him. I chose to be with him. And I love Sango, she's part of me.” Kagome moved away from her mother. “Why are you bringing this up?”

 

“…The crash”

 

Kagome looked at her mother in complete confusion. What did the car crash have to due with Inuyasha?

 

“I don't know. But something about it reminded me.” Mrs. Higurashi's breath became forced, as if just that small bit of conversation had taken most of her energy. She began to close her eyes.

 

Kagome took a quick glance at the small silver watch on her wrist. `2:45 pm….Oh Crap!' “Mom! I'm sorry I just realized the time! I was supposed to pick up Sango two minutes ago!” Kagome stood quickly and gathered her things. “I'm sorry Mom! I will visit again tomorrow morning. Sutoru has the day off so I can maybe spend the entire day with you.”

 

Kagome kissed her mother on the forehead and walked towards the door. She glanced back slowly. She hated leaving her mother in such bad condition but there was no other way, the world kept turning whether her mother was sick or not. “I love you Mom. I'll see you later. Feel better!”

 

Her mother gave a soft smile of re-assurance. “I love you too Kagome… Don't worry about me… alright?”

 

Kagome nodded and raced out of the door, but instantly collided with a hard surface. Someone had just been entering the room as well. “Sorry!” Kagome said quickly moving her way around the person in a hurry.

 

“No problem.” The man said, equally shaken up as he made his way around her.

 

Kagome hadn't gotten a good look at him but she noticed he had walked into her mother's room. `hm. Must be the inspector coming to ask mom about the crash'

 

 

He sat patiently in the waiting room of the hospital. He had to breathe through his mouth to keep from vomiting. The smell of death and strong medication clung to every object, including himself.

 

`I hate hospitals'

 

He had been dreading this day as much as any other. Just the regular old junk, nothing new. Everyone else would have found it extremely odd that a person, who had just got into a serious car crash, was able to get out of the car and escape the police. To him this was an everyday occurrence. To him, this was his specialty.

 

He looked towards the large mirror in front of him, running one hand through his thick black hair. He hated his hair like this, he felt so unprotected. They did a damn good job convincing him that it would help him blend in. But still, he missed the weight on his shoulders.

 

He analyzed his features slowly, taking into account everything that had changed. He looked nothing like he had before. He felt like he was in a different person body.

 

Reaching into his breast pocket, he took out a small red pill and put it in his mouth, drinking from the bottle of water on the table. `Maybe this will help get rid of that stench'

 

After a few seconds he felt his senses fade away into nothing. He felt as if he was blind to the world.

 

“Officer Takeshi?”

 

Takeshi looked up quickly, seeing the nurse was calling for him to go see the patient. He nodded and began walking toward the patients' room. Lifting out his date planner he read her name. He had found this one seemingly easy to memorize. “Mrs. Higurashi…”

 

It was good to know the victims name before he met them. It helped them feel more comfortable during the interrogation.

 

Suddenly he came into contact with something, causing him to fumble with his notebook. He gripped it firmly before it fell and looked down at the girl who had just bumped into him.

 

“Sorry!” She said stepping around him quickly. He moved to clear her way. “No problem.”

 

She shuffled down the hallway quickly, and he watched her go for a second before entering the room. `sorry…' The word echoed in his mind for a moment. He dismissed the thought quickly and concentrated on acting presentable in front of the sick patient. He began to coach himself as he headed into the room. `Act concerned, as if her life really mattered to you…'

 

“Hello Mrs. Higurashi, I'm the officer from sector seven. I'm here to ask you a few questions, is that alright?”

 

 

 

“No problem…” Kagome mumbled those two words slowly while backing into the small garage in front of the shrine gates. Those two words kept echoing in her mind the whole way home.

 

`I wonder what that guy is saying to my mother right now… Maybe I should have stayed with her…' Kagome got out of the car and walked around to the backseat. She was greeted by two beautiful brown eyes.

 

Sango was a beautiful little girl, but for some reason Kagome could feel the characteristics weren't her own. Everybody said the child looked exactly like Kagome, but to Kagome, the child looked more like Kikyo. She didn't really mind though, in fact Sango's characteristics almost made Kagome love the baby more. Kagome loved anything that reminded her of the feudal era, even if that was Kikyo.

 

The young girl was also learning really fast, she could speak quite well for a baby of not even two, and she could run around the whole shrine without stumbling. Of course with such smarts the girl obviously got into a lot of trouble. The terrible two's had come early just like everything else.

 

“Hey Sango! How was school?” Kagome asked while unbuckling the baby that was keeping Kagome from complete depression.

 

“Fun fun fun fun fun!” The girl said clapping. The little ball of energy was ready to race around the shrine the first chance she got. The only problem was the long flight of stairs, which had to be barred every time someone entered the shrine so that the baby wouldn't fall down them. This was pretty bad for business, because people thought the shrine was under construction half the time.

 

Kagome got the child out of her seat and shut the door. She locked the car and began to walk up the stairs to her family's shrine.

“What should we make for Daddies dinner Sango?”

 

“Apple Momma!” The girl screeched while clapping her hands in excitement. Kagome flew the little girl in the air and plopped her onto the ground when they reached the shrine, locking the gate behind her. The two laughed and began running around the shrine.

 

In a few minutes Kagome had forgotten all about the things that happened in her day. She could forget about everything with the baby around. The child was Kagome's life force.

 

The little baby suddenly stopped and plopped herself onto the ground, not facing Kagome. Sango wanted her mother to sneak up on her and toss her in the air. Sango giggled with anticipation, listening to every sound her mother made.

 

Kagome obliged, slowly creeping up on the innocent child. “Here I come little demon”

 

Sango giggled and kicked her feet. Kagome pounced and grabbed the little girl by the waste, tossing her into the air and catching her on the way down. The girl screamed in happiness and wiggled in Kagome's arms.

 

She put the little girl down and Sango ran off quickly. The girl ran straight for the Goshinboku tree and tripped over the railing around it.

 

Kagome gasped, wondering if her daughter was hurt. The girl was silent and Kagome waited expecting a cry of pain.

 

Instead of crying, Sango stood up and looked at the tree, she seemed to be mesmerized.

 

Kagome took a few steps toward her daughter, wondering what the baby was up to and why had she not cried. There was silence for a while as Kagome watched the baby stare at the tree.

 

The little girl moved closer to the tree and put her hands on the base. “…Doggy”

 

A cold chill ran up Kagome's spine, and the hair on her neck stood on end. She walked towards the tree, wondering if she had been hearing things. “Wh-what did you say Sango?”

 

Sango continued staring at the tree, patting it softly with both hands. “Doggy…” She murmured.

 

Kagome knelt down next to the child and placed her hands upon the tree as well. She hadn't done this in years. She could feel the energy pulsing within the mystical tree and it reminded her of that fateful day when she had met Inuyasha. `this tree is part of him…'

 

“Hello girls. What's up? Is there something wrong with the tree?”

 

Kagome looked back and her eyes locked with her husbands. She smiled, trying to cover up her sadness. “Oh nothing, I was just telling Sango about the tree's origins.”

 

Kagome analyzed her husbands' features. He had jet black hair which was cut close to his neck, keeping the hair short but still have a small bit of volume to it. A few strands of hair hung down over his forehead, guiding her gaze to his deep purple eyes. His eye colour was quite rare, and that interesting feature was probably what had gotten Kagome to marry him. He was definitely a handsome man, and could probably catch the attention of any other attractive woman. But there was something about him that kept Kagome from ever truly treating him as a lover.

 

He smiled softly at his wife, but his eyes had sadness behind them. He knew that Kagome was keeping something from him. She had been keeping him in the dark for years.